What Common-Sense Gun Control Looks Like Morris (21) Will (8) Bergdahl Trial Ast Thursday, As Americans Were Rampage in Columbine, Colorado

At Issue this week... Gun Control by Erick Erickson October 21, 2015

2016 Election Barone (15) What common-sense gun control looks like Morris (21) Will (8) Bergdahl Trial ast Thursday, as Americans were rampage in Columbine, Colorado. In fact, In the United States, there is roughly McCaughey (30) still coming to grips with the the guns restricted under the ban were not one gun per person. The American cities Book Review tragic rampage in Oregon, Presi- used in Columbine. with the worst gun violence, Washington Williams (13) dentL Obama addressed the American peo- In the latest rampage, the assault weap- and Chicago, also happen to have some of Carson, Ben Massie (11) ple. An hour before the president spoke, ons ban would also have been no good. the most restrictive gun laws in the coun- Clinton, Hillary news outlets were confirming that the Next, the left pivoted to background try, in contrast to Kennesaw, Georgia, Barone (3) shooter in Oregon had targeted his victims checks. Between the novel and creative which requires every homeowner in the Lambro (12) Thomas (23) based on their religion. talking points peddled by the left these city to own a gun. According to the web- Conservatives Multiple eyewitnesses and relatives of days, the idea is that it is easier to buy a site neighborhoodscout.com, Kennesaw Murchison (22) the victims all said the shooter asked the gun than to adopt a dog or even buy beer. sees 1.31 violent crimes per 1,000 people Crime victims to state their religion. Those who The people peddling these annually. Chicago sees nine and Washing- Charen (27) Dear Mark said “Christian” were shot in the head. ton sees 13. Levy (19) Others were shot in the legs or other parts The truth is that the United States and Democrats of their body. The president — in 1,299 Erick its attitude toward gun culture are unique. Towery (9) words — never once discussed religious Erickson Instead of mimicking Australia and Great Disorders tolerance or even condemned the shoot- Britain with their gun confiscation pro- Hollis (26) (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate Fantasy Football ing. It is worth noting, at a minimum, that grams, our leaders should think different- Schlafly (13) had the shooter or victims been Muslim, ly. The best gun control in this country is Foreign Policy the president would have talked about re- talking points have clearly never tried to an armed, honest citizenry who can shoot Greenberg (29) Government ligious tolerance. buy a gun. Additionally, some of the guns straight. Instead of gun free zones, we Cushman (22) used in Oregon were purchased legally in should allow law abiding, concealed carry Gun Control SAYING “THIS IS something we a state with restrictive gun control laws, permit holders to go where they wish with Erickson (1) Harsanyi (9) should politicize,” the president proceeded and background checks were performed. their guns. Krauthammer (2) to call for more gun laws, though he could Shapiro (4) not name any that would have prevented LAST MONTH in Virginia, Gov. Ter- LUCKILY FOR gun owners, the more Sowell (3, 15) the shooting. Instead, he cited “friends of ry McAuliffe raced to televisions every- Democrats agitate for restrictive gun laws, Household Incomes Jeffrey (20) ours, allies of ours — Great Britain, Aus- where to demand background checks for the worse the Democrats do in polling. House Republicans tralia, countries like ours.” guns after a deranged gunman killed a re- Beta male gun control policies may be Buchanan (16) But what do those countries’ gun laws porter and her cameraman live on televi- winners on editorial pages, but are losers Kudlow (17) look like? The president and the left wing sion. The gunman had purchased his gun in our national electoral system. Lambro (14) Lowry (17) media horde of editorialists and activists legally and had a background check at the Saunders (18) citing Great Britain and Australia give us time of purchase. October 9, 2015 Thomas (18) our hint — gun confiscation. Both coun- Iran tries have very tight bans on guns and Greenberg (30) IRS have confiscated their citizens’ guns. Aus- Will (21) tralia raised a tax and used that money to Leftist Tactics buy back guns in Australia. Several stud- Farah (28) ies suggest that the Australian gun laws Mass Shootings Buchanan (6) did reduce gun related suicides, but only Coulter (7) weakly at best improved the homicide Tyrrell (6) rate. Media Bias Bozell (10, 28) In citing other countries, the president Limbaugh (10) and the left also fail to reflect on our con- Lowry (24) stitution. We do have a Second Amend- Prager (27) ment, which the Supreme Court has ruled Middle East Greenberg (23) gives an individual the right to keep and Natural Rights bear arms. A political army that demands Napolitano (5) unfettered access to abortions because the Obamacare Supreme Court says they are legal has no Malkin (4) Portugal qualms about ignoring the court when the Bay (20) army disagrees. Race Concurrent to these — thus far — subtle Elder (25) calls for gun confiscation are calls for new Limbaugh (24) Russia laws. The left is pushing for a renewed as- Chavez (31) sault weapons ban, which is more accu- Sanctuary City rately called a “spooky weapons” ban; the Saunders (29) ban just targeted guns that looked spooky. Trivia Bits Paquet (14) The original ban did nothing to stop the 2 Conservative Chronicle GUN CONTROL: October 8, 2015 Another massacre, another charade here’s the cycle of poverty. and his mother obtained every one of country, with its traditions, public sen- severely psychiatrically ill — you see There’s the cycle of violence. their guns legally. timent and, most importantly, Second them sleeping on grates — live and die And then there’s the cycle of The reason the debate is so mud- Amendment, them’s fightin’ words. wretchedly abandoned. gunT talk. It starts with a mass shoot- dled, indeed surreal — notice, by Obama didn’t say them. Nor did he The problem is that these mass-mur- ing. Gun-control advocates blame the the way, how “gun control” has been seriously address the other approach der cases are fairly unusual. Take Rose- deaths on gun-control opponents, who cleverly rechristened “commonsense that could make a difference: more ag- burg. That young man had no criminal argue, in turn, that none of the pro- gun-safety laws,” as if we’re talking gressive psychiatric intervention. These history, no psychiatric diagnosis be- posed restrictions would have had any about accident proofing — is that both massacres are almost invari- yond Asperger’s, no involvement in effect on the incident in question. The sides know that ably perpetrated by public disturbances. How do you find, debate goes nowhere. The media move the only measure severely disturbed, let alone lock up, someone like that? on. that might actu- Charles isolated, often delu- There are 320 million Americans. Until the next incident, when the ally prevent mass Krauthammer sional young men. Schizophrenia affects about one percent cycle begins again. killings has abso- Yet even here, of the population. That’s about three lutely no chance (c) 2015, Washington Post Writers Group our reach is limit- million people. Only a tiny fraction are SO WITH THE Roseburg massa- of ever being en- ed. In some cases, ever violent — and predicting which cre in Oregon. Within hours, President acted. yes, involuntary commitment would ones will be is almost impossible. Obama takes to the microphones to fu- Mere “commonsense” regulation, have made a difference. Jared Lough- Loner, socially isolated, often im- riously denounce the NRA and its ilk like the assault weapons ban of 1994 ner, the Tucson shooter, was so unsta- mersed in a fantasy world of violent for resisting “commonsense gun-safety that was allowed to lapse 10 years ble, so menacing, that fellow students video games. There are myriad such laws.” His harangue is totally sincere, later, does little more than make us at his community college feared, said young men out there, but with differ- totally knee-jerk and totally pointless. feel good. A Justice Department study one, that he would “come into class ent ages of onset, in different stages of At the time he delivers it, he — and we found “no discernible reduction in the with an automatic weapon.” Under our derangement. Only a handful will ever — know practically nothing about the lethality and injuriousness of gun vio- crazy laws, however, he had to kill be- harm anyone. What to do? Forcibly ap- shooter, nothing about the weapons, lence.” fore he could be locked up. prehend them, treat them, put them on nothing about how they were obtained. As for the only remotely plausible perpetual preventive parole? By the Nor does Obama propose any leg- solution, Obama dare not speak its SIMILARLY, THE Navy Yard tens of thousands? islation. He knows none would pass. name. He made an oblique reference shooter had been found by police a few Committing the Jared Loughners But the deeper truth is that it would to Australia, never mentioning that its weeks earlier in a hotel room, psychot- would have an effect. But even they are have made no difference. Does any- gun-control innovation was confisca- ic and paranoid. They advised him to the exception among the shooters. Yet one really believe that the (alleged) tion, by means of a mandatory buy- get psychiatric help. Advised. Predict- “commonsense” gun control would do gun-show loophole had anything to do back. There’s a reason he didn’t bring ably, he fell through the mental health even less. Unless you’re willing to go with Roseburg? Universal background up confiscation (apart from the debate cracks. A month later, he killed 12 and all the way. checks sound wonderful. But Oregon about its actual efficacy in reduc- was killed himself, another casualty already has one. The Roseburg shooter ing gun violence in Australia). In this of a mental health system that lets the IN THE FINAL quarter of his presidency, Obama can very well say what he wants. If he believes in Australian- style confiscation — i.e., abolishing the Second Amendment — why not spell it out? Until he does, he should stop de- monizing people for not doing what he won’t even propose.

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[email protected] Visit our web site at: Contact us at 800-888-3039 or email: [email protected] www.conservativechronicle.com October 21, 2015 3 HILLARY CLINTON: October 9, 2015 Clinton’s leftward tack on immigration and guns has risks ou win the presidency, Rich- to be taking the same risk. Presumably ents. I will not be breaking up families,” These stands are obviously designed ard Nixon supposedly ob- she does so with open eyes, aware that it she told a Telemundo interviewer ear- to appeal to Hispanic primary voters. served, by tacking to the right might hurt her if nominated, but is more lier this month. But while polls show that non-enforce- in theY primaries and to the center in the apprehensive about the primary fight ment against dreamers is popular, ad- general election. Hillary Clinton seems than she was seven months ago, before FOR ILLEGALS, Clinton said a ministratively legalizing illegals may to be following that strategy except, as a the revelations about her private email “path to citizenship” is “absolutely es- be a liability in any fall campaign. Democrat, she is tacking to the left. server. sential” — a stand that contrasts even Clinton is also willing to use admin- This strategy has risks, as Nixon, On immigration, for example, she with such immigration- istrative methods to restrict gun own- who lost the presidency once and won promises to go friendly Republicans ership. In New Hampshire this month it once by narrow margins, understood. at least one step as Jeb Bush, who she promised “executive action” of an Your right- or left-wing stances in the further than Presi- Michael advocates legaliza- unspecified nature to restrict gun sales. primaries can hurt in the general. dent Obama. She Barone tion but not citizen- She also called for repeal of the 2005 As happened to George McGovern, endorses that his ship for illegals. law granting legal immunity from law- the leftward-tacking Democratic nomi- orders effectively (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate And even more suits for gun manufacturers and dealers. nee in 1972, whom Nixon beat with 61 legalize not only than Obama, she That was obviously with an eye to percent of the vote. In the four decades “dreamers” — persons brought into the would use administrative powers to do primary voters, since her chief rival at since only Ronald Reagan in 1984 came country illegally as children and who what Congress declines to authorize. “I the moment, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sand- close to that percentage. meet certain conditions — but their par- want to do more on an individual basis ers, voted for that law. Vermont is one ents. by putting more resources, more per- state that has never restricted gun own- HILLARY CLINTON, whose hus- That latter order has been put on hold sonnel into the system to try to help as ership, and Sanders has voted against band ran McGovern’s fall campaign in by a federal judge. But that doesn’t faze many people as possible get a different many, though not all, gun control mea- Texas (he won 33 percent there), seems Clinton. “I will not be deporting par- status.” sures — a no-no for many Democratic primary voters. So just as Mitt Romney went after GUN CONTROL: October 13, 2015 Rick Perry four years ago on immigration — one issue on which he was to the right of his then most threatening rival — Hillary Clinton is going after The ‘gun control’ farce Sanders on this one issue on which she resident Obama’s intrusion difficult to understand how gun control enough to get him to back off, often in stands to his left. into the mourning community laws should have become such a heated some haste. But this isn’t ideal positioning, to of Roseburg, Oregon, in or- and long-lasting controversy. There have been books and articles say the least, for the general election. derP to promote his political crusade for There is a huge amount of statistical based on voluminous statistics, includ- Al Gore is said to believe that Bill Clin- stronger gun control laws, is part of a evidence, just within the United States, ing statistics comparing gun laws and ton’s championing of gun control cost pattern of his using various other sites since gun control laws are different in gun crime rates in different countries, Gore the electoral voters of their two of shooting rampages in the past to pro- 50 different states and these laws have such as Guns and Violence by Profes- home states — and thus the 2000 elec- mote this long-standing crusade of the been changed over time in many of sor Joyce Lee Malcolm of George Ma- tion. Hillary Clinton’s emphasis on gun political left. these states. There are mountains of son University. Seldom do these factual control eliminates any chance she can The zealotry of gun control advo- data on what happens under restrictive studies back up what the gun control carry such states and restricts her to the cates might make some sense if they laws and what happens when restric- zealots are saying. strategy of trying to re-assemble Barack had any serious evidence that more re- tions are lifted. Why would an ultimately factual Obama’s 51 percent 2012 coalition. strictive gun control laws actually re- question about the consequences of gun Candidate Clinton, if nominated, duce gun crimes. But they seldom even control laws divide people along ideo- is at risk of being associated with discuss the issue in terms of empirical Thomas logical lines? Only if at least one set of Obama’s recent favorable evocation of evidence. Sowell people were more devoted to their vision Australia’s gun confiscation law. Her than to the facts. stand on immigration gets her closer to SAVING LIVES is serious busi- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate This shows up when gun control zeal- the stance Bill Clinton took, in a speech ness. But claiming to be saving lives ots are asked whether whatever new law in Australia on September 10, 2001, for and refusing to deal with evidence is a STATISTICS ON murder are among they propose would have prevented the eventual elimination of all national bor- farce. Nor is the Second Amendment or the most widely available statistics, and shooting rampage that they are using as ders for trade and immigration. the National Rifle Association the real among the most accurate, since no one a stage from which to propose a new Other cave-ins to the Democratic issue, despite how much the media and ignores a dead body. With so many clampdown on gun ownership. Almost left — her opposition to the Keystone the intelligentsia focus on them. facts available from so many places and always, the new law being proposed XL pipeline, to Arctic oil drilling, to If there is hard evidence that stronger times, why is gun control still a heated would not have made the slightest dif- the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership — gun control laws actually reduce gun issue? The short answer is that most gun ference. That too is part of the farce. A could hurt as well. Similarly, attempts crimes in general or reduce murders in control zealots do not even discuss the deadly farce. to skitter away from her somewhat particular, the Second Amendment can issue in terms of hard facts. So is the automatic assertion that who- hawkish foreign policy views could be be repealed, as other Amendments have The zealots act as if they just know ever engaged in a shooting rampage was a general election liability. been repealed. Constitutional Amend- — somehow — that bullets will be fly- a madman. Yet these supposedly crazy Of course Republicans could have ments exist to serve the people. People ing hither and yon if you allow ordinary shooters are usually rational enough to problems, too, with an unruly field and do not exist to be sacrificed to Constitu- people to have guns. Among the many choose some “gun-free zone” for their various candidates tacking to the right. tional Amendments. facts this ignores is that gun sales were murderous attacks. They seem more ra- But Clinton’s risk is obvious. But if hard evidence shows that re- going up by the millions in late 20th tional than gun control zealots who keep strictions on gun ownership lead to century America, and the murder rate creating more “gun-free zones.” SHE IS NOT likely to match more gun crimes, rather than less, then was going down at the same time. Obama’s margins among black voters the National Rifle Association’s opposi- Among the other facts that gun con- GUN CONTROL zealots are almost and may not match his Hispanic per- tion to those restrictions makes sense, trol zealots consistently ignore are data always people who are lenient toward centage. Add in losses from tacking independently of the Second Amend- on how many lives are saved each year criminals, while they are determined to too far left on immigration and guns, ment. by a defensive use of guns. This seldom crack down on law-abiding citizens who and she could fall below Nixon’s two Since this all boils down to a question requires actually shooting. Just pointing want to be able to defend themselves near-ties and sink toward McGovern’s of hard evidence about plain facts, it is a loaded gun at an assailant is usually and their loved ones. showing. 4 Conservative Chronicle OBAMACARE: October 14, 2015 Obama lied, my health plan died ... twice! It’s deja screwed all over again. chase health insurance directly on the “significant changes in regulation and dropping PPO plans offered to tens of In the fall of 2013, our family re- ever-shrinking individual market. market dynamics over the past two thousands of individuals and families. ceived notice from Anthem Blue Cross In Illinois, Blue Cross announced it years.” As the Arizona Republic’s editorial Blue Shield of Colorado that we could was eliminating its most popular indi- Remember: One of the reasons for board noted this weekend, “Rosy pre- no longer keep our private health in- vidual plan with the largest network of those rate hikes is that Obamacare’s dictions of cost savings bandied by ad- surance plan because of “changes from doctors and hospitals of any of its of- mandated benefits provisions force vocates five years ago are now running health care reform (also called the Af- ferings, Blue PPO. More than 170,000 insurers to carry coverage for into the harsh economic reality of un- fordable Care Act or ACA).” enrollees will have to scrounge up an items that individual anticipated consequences.” Hospitals alternative. Cus- market consumers are consolidating. Doctors are quit- WE LIKED our high-deductible tomers are pan- Michelle had deliberately ting their private practices or hitching preferred provider organization plan icking, and insur- chosen to forgo. themselves to the big hospital wagons. that allowed us to choose from a wide ance broker Mike Malkin Americans who “And bigger means fewer options. range of doctors. But Obamacare Troha told the (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate had willingly and Only a handful of critics predicted in wouldn’t let us keep it. Reluctantly, Chicago Tribune willfully opted 2010 that one consequence of Obam- and after great bureaucratic difficulty, last week: for affordable catastrophic coverage- acare would be the return of HMOs. my hubby and I enrolled in an indi- “I wouldn’t be shocked if all the style plans now have fewer and fewer But, in retrospect, no one should be vidual market plan with Rocky Moun- PPOs are gone in a few years in the choices. surprised.” tain Health, which offered a much individual markets.” In Texas, some 300,000 individual narrower provider network than the health insurance subscribers are watch- IN OTHER words: The destruction Anthem PPO plan we had before the LAST MONTH, the Maryland In- ing their plans disappear and their ac- of the private health insurance market feds snuffed it out. surance Administration approved pre- cess to specialists. In New Mexico, the is going exactly according to plan and Thanks to “reform,” our two kids’ mium rate increases for small group state Obamacare exchange ended all of as many of us warned. dental care was no longer covered, and and individual health insurance plans its PPO offerings in favor of HMOs. Thanks, Obamacare. we had our post-Obamacare insurance effective next year, with some rates And in Arizona, Aetna, Blue Cross turned down at an urgent care clinic spiking by double digits thanks to Blue Shield, Cigna and Meritus are all — something that had never happened before. October 14, 2015 This summer came another bomb- GUN CONTROL: shell. In August, we were informed of the “discontinuation of your Rocky Moun- tain Individual and Family plan effec- The anti-Jew anti-gun crusade tive December 31, 2015.” his week, 2016 Republican ficacy of gun control, and effectuated who cast a warm eye on them, began Over the past month, we have re- presidential contender Dr. it with regard to Jews throughout his manufacturing bullets underground ceived several bold-faced notices alert- Ben Carson bore the brunt of regime: While guns were completely and transporting them using milk ing us that “IMPORTANT ACTION IS theT media’s ire for his politically incor- banned in Germany in 1920, the laws trucks. After World War II, Jews were REQUIRED: YOU MUST CHOOSE rect take on the evils of gun control. were liberalized in 1928 before Hit- unlikely to surrender their weapons to A NEW INDIVIDUAL & FAM- “Through a combination of removing ler cracked down on Jews from 1933 supposedly friendly authorities. They ILY PLAN TO MAINTAIN YOUR guns and disseminating propaganda, to 1938, when full confiscation of all didn’t. The result: a Jewish State. HEALTH COVERAGE IN 2016.” The the Nazis were able to carry out their weapons, including knives, from Jews Guns matter. Self-defense matters. clock is ticking: open enrollment be- evil intentions with relatively little took place. The penalty for Jewish The left wants Jews to surrender gins Nov. 1. resistance,” Carson writes in his new ownership of weapons: condemnation both. The coerced choices are pretty book, A Perfect Union. to a concentration camp for up to 20 Today, the world turns a blind eye as darned crummy. Individual market Leftists, including the activists of years. Jews were warned that “they Palestinian Arabs stab children in the PPOs have evaporated. We are being the Anti-Defamation League, promptly should interpret the new ordinance streets of Jerusalem — and they tell shoved once again toward the Obam- condemned Carson. National Director and the already existing Weapons Law the Israelis not to worry so much about acare government health insurance ex- Jonathan Greenblatt explained, “the strictly.” Iranian terror support or the Iranian change vortex known as Connect for notion that Hitler’s gun-control policy nuclear program. Jews should simply Health Colorado (which should really contributed to the Holocaust is histori- Ben stop being so militaristic, tell their be called “DISconnect from Health cally inaccurate.” Nick Baumann of armed citizens to stop fighting with Colorado). Or into a narrow regional the Huffington Post wrote, “There was Shapiro terrorists armed with blades. Surely, HMO. some armed Jewish resistance to the (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate that will end the cycle of violence. So much for “If you like your doc- power of the Nazi war machine. But tor, you will be able to keep your doc- it often ended in death for the Jews in- BUT FOR CENTURIES, the cycle tor, period. If you like your health care volved.” WOULD JEWISH weapons have of violence has not ended with regard plan, you’ll be able to keep your health helped prevent the Holocaust? They to Jews. That’s because there is no cy- care plan, period. No one will take it THIS IS THE height of idiocy. certainly would have saved more Jew- cle of violence: It’s a consistent pattern away, no matter what,” eh, Mr. Presi- Pretty much everything ended in death ish lives. Jewish resistance in the death of Jew-hatred carried forward to vio- dent? for Jews during World War II in Eu- camps of Sobibor and Treblinka shut lence. Denigrating Jewish self-defense Obama lied and our health plan has rope. But what gave them a better shot them down; Jewish resistance in the means more dead Jews. More impor- now died — twice. of survival: having a gun or being Warsaw Ghetto led to over a thousand tantly, it means depriving Jews of their “Progressives” sneered at millions completely disarmed? German casualties. Armed resistance humanity. The first human right is the of us who received the first round of Historically, enemies of the Jews is invariably a better method of self- right to defend your life and your fam- individual market health plan death no- — or any other subject population, for defense against tyranny than nothing. ily, even if you can’t win. More good tices. Mother Jones called it the “pho- that matter — have sought to disarm Meanwhile, in the Holy Land, the people with guns fighting tyranny ny canceled health insurance scandal” the Jews in order to carry out their de- British sought to prevent Jewish weap- make the world a better place. That when I first reported my 2013 health signs. This goes all the way back to the ons ownership as well, so as to prevent was true in 1944, and it’s true today. plan homicide by Obamacare. Bible, in which the Philistines banned those uppity Jews from seizing con- That rule doesn’t change just because But it’s real, it sucks, and we know all ironsmiths from the Jews, explic- trol of pre-independence Israel. Jew- the world seems indifferent to Jewish we are not alone among the estimated itly stating, “Lest the Jews make them ish independence fighters, victimized suffering, no matter what the era. 22 million other Americans who pur- swords or spears.” Hitler knew the ef- by Arab gangs and British authorities October 21, 2015 5 NATURAL RIGHTS: October 8, 2015 The natural right to self-defense hile the FBI continued to a drunken driver misuses his Chevy and analyze the emails Hill- injures someone. The courts would sure- ary Clinton thought she ly reject that. deletedW and her advisers pressed her to The executive order proposal as- hire a Republican criminal defense at- saults the Constitution. Those in the gun torney in Washington, a madman used sale business must conduct background a lawfully purchased handgun to kill a checks via computer services offered by professor and eight students at a com- the FBI. The background checks look for munity college in Roseburg, Oregon. reports of crimes of violence, Looking to change domestic violence the subject away and mental illness. from her emails, Andrew Private people who — meaning that it is akin to thought, buying a gun and using it to murder in- Clinton was quick Napolitano occasionally sell speech, press, association, worship, discriminately. If killers are prepared to to pounce. (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate their hardware or travel, etc. murder innocent children, does Clinton She who has give guns as gifts Yet if she were to become president, really think they would obey the laws ripped into Republicans for seeking are exempt from conducting background she would take an oath to uphold the regulating gun ownership? political gain from the four American checks. Clinton would create a presiden- Constitution; that means the Consti- Both mass murders occurred in no- deaths in Benghazi, Libya, now seeks tially written and mandated definition of tution as interpreted by the Supreme gun zones. A no-gun zone is the most her own political gain from the dozens occasional sales and gifts so as to require Court. The presidential oath of office dangerous place on the planet when a of murdered children and young adults background checks for all gun transfers would require that she execute her du- madman intent on killing enters. No- in Newtown, Connecticut, and Rose- — a requirement Congress rejected. ties “faithfully” — whether she agrees gun zones are arbitrarily designated on burg. On the heels of the latter and re- We are 13 months from Election Day with the law or constitutional provision public property by local authorities, ferring to both tragedies, she launched 2016, and Clinton has already promised or not. She apparently has no intention stripping law-abiding folks of their law- an emotional attack early this week on that she would rule by pen and phone of fulfilling the presidential oath of of- fully owned guns — their natural right the two most recent Supreme Court de- rather than govern by consensus. fice. to self-defense — and exposing them to cisions upholding the personal right to As a lawyer, Clinton should know We are 13 months from Election Day terror and death. keep and bear arms. She offered to “fix” that only the federal courts — not the 2016, and Clinton has already promised The Constitution does not permit them should she be elected president. president — can decide what statutory that she would not enforce Supreme public no-gun zones any more than it language means. Moreover, if she knew Court decisions with which she dis- does public no-free-speech zones. If HER SO-CALLED fix consists of anything about FBI background checks, agrees. the right to keep and bear arms is truly a dead-on-arrival legislative proposal she would know that they are only as fundamental, the government cannot The anti-Jew anti-gun crusade making gun manufacturers financially good as the database on which they rely. WHAT DID both the Newtown and interfere with it based on geography. If liable for the misuse of their products If a madman hides his mental illness, no the Roseburg tragedies have in com- the Army veteran/college student who and an executive order determining the database will reveal it. mon? Both murderers were madmen. stopped seven bullets with his body last meaning of certain words used in federal Her attacks on the Supreme Court Yet neither had a record of mental ill- week and saved the lives of his class- statutes. decisions were direct. She rejects their ness, so the background checks the anti- mates (and survived!) had been permit- The liability-shifting proposal is akin characterization of the right to keep self-defense lobby loves would not have ted to carry a gun into the school build- to punishing General Motors whenever and bear arms as a fundamental right prevented either of these killers from ing, the madman who murdered nine innocents would have been stopped long before police arrived — long before he completed his killings. The right to keep and bear arms has more than just the Second Amendment to protect it. By characterizing the right as fundamental and pre-political, the high court accepted the truism that this right is merely a modern extension of the ancient right to self-defense. And the right to defend oneself does not come from the government; it comes from our humanity. It is a natural right. Who among us, when confronted with the terror of nearly certain annihi- lation, would concern himself with the niceties of the law? Life itself is at stake. The right to self-defense is a manifesta- tion of the natural instinct for survival, borne in the hearts of all rational people. But Hillary Clinton rejects that instinct because she prefers we become dependent upon the government — as long as she is running it.

THE POLICE cannot stop mass killings, because they cannot be everywhere all the time. And madmen willing to kill do not fear being lawbreakers. Guns in the hands of the people give not only tyrants second thoughts but also madmen. Even madmen fear an early death. 6 Conservative Chronicle MASS SHOOTINGS: October 9, 2015 The allure of mass murder: Rewarded for barbarity “Seems the more people you kill, the has become as notorious as John Dill- Commandments had been ruthlessly ex- And the reward that Islamists offer to more you are in the limelight.” inger and Jesse James. punged. He grew up in a deracinated so- their suicide bombers? That blog post on the email address The lesson of Roseburg? ciety whose reverence for human life is Not too different from ours. We of Oregon mass-murderer Christopher If you are sick of life and hate the testified to by 55 million abortions since make our monsters media celebrities of Harper-Mercer was made after Vester world, you can end it in a way that Roe v. Wade, and by video games where the moment. The Islamic State makes Lee Flanagan shot and killed that Roa- makes that world take notice of who you killing of simulated human beings is them martyrs for Allah who spend eter- noke TV reporter and her cameraman. were. If you are willing to shoot a dozen treated as a participant sport. nity in paradise. “I have noticed,” said the blog post, unarmed people, In the country of In a de-Christianized America where “that people like [Flanagan] are all and die in a blaze Pat yesterday, “Thou no higher law exists, killing is a com- alone and unknown, yet when they spill of gunfire, TV will shalt not kill” was monplace occurrence, and the popular a little blood, the whole world knows interrupt its broad- Buchanan the word of God, culture is polluted by raw sex and vio- who you are.” casting to report (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate and the penal- lence, what answer does society give Harper-Mercer had found the key to on who you are, ty for breaking to the Harper-Mercers who are willing his future, and given us a truism for our what you did, and to read on-air selec- God’s law and man’s law was not only to kill in large numbers to become fa- time. tions from your fiery final manifesto. execution, but the loss of one’s soul. mous? The Charleston killer Dylan Roof How many still believe that? We are not the rules-based society FOR THE WORLD now knows had photos of himself waving the Battle We have a drug culture where those we once were. We have junked the who Harper-Mercer is. Flag shown to all of America. The Roa- with mental illness are prescribed ever Christian code, embraced absolute so- We have seen his face on TV. We noke killer took cellphone photos while more powerful antidepressants. And cial freedom, and dispensed with the have read how he murdered eight stu- shooting the woman reporter. modernity has no convincing answer to moral sanctions. dents and a teacher at Umpqua Commu- the eternal question, “Why not?” nity College, how those who admitted to MOREOVER, SOCIETY is pro- Across the secularized West, in the YET INSTEAD of the Great Soci- being Christian were executed in front ducing more and more dead souls like thousands, young men are being attract- ety of liberalism’s promise, we seem of the class with a bullet to the brain. Harper-Mercer, who crave the same re- ed to the Islamic State to become sui- to be approaching a society that is sick When detectives arrived, Harper- ward. cide bombers. The drawing card? Foot- unto death. Mercer was wounded in a firefight, fled The child of a broken family, he was age of anti-Islamists being beheaded on back to his bloody classroom and shot taught in schools from which the Ten a beach. himself. From start to finish, the worst shooting in Oregon’s history lasted half MASS SHOOTINGS: October 9, 2015 an hour. When the news broke, predictably, President Obama was back in the White House briefing room calling for new laws to control the sale of guns. And so what is to be done? “You never let a serious crisis go to egarding last week’s mass mass murder. In Texas in 1966 it left 16 past the perpetrator of such an act was waste,” said Rahm Emanuel. murder in Oregon, what is dead. In Oregon it left nine dead. Since hated. He would be better off taking his Yet it is hard to find an episode where there to say that is new? There 1966, there have been 160 episodes of own life than taking the lives of others. new gun laws would seem less relevant. wasR a day in America when such an a lone gunman committing such an act. What has changed? For one thing, I For what took place at Roseburg, Or- atrocity was almost unheard of. There suspect our current “nonjudgmental” egon, was a planned massacre by a man were family feuds, mafia murders, and SOMETHING HAS gone haywire state of mind has gone wildly too far. For full of hate who had decided to end his I guess what were called juvenile delin- in our society — or perhaps I should say another thing, our culture insists there is life in a blaze of infamy, by suicide, or quent murders, though they were com- in our culture. Before 1966, there was an something “interesting” about the homi- suicide-by-cop, so he could become as paratively rare and for the most part ig- abundance of guns out there. Since then cidal loner. And then there is the whole famous as the killers of Columbine, Ft. nored. gun control has been tightened repeated- question of violence in our society. In Hood, Aurora, Sandy Hook, Tucson, ly, but the murders have gotten the arts, in entertainment, everywhere Virginia Tech and Charleston. GROWING UP in Chicago, I recall worse. There are now some violence seeps into our lives. Sitting at Harper-Mercer wanted to die as a a family friend — a celebrated Chicago home in the comfort of one’s television mass-murderer. police reporter — who told my parents R. Emmett room many people seem to yearn for a Is someone driven by such hatred, on the occasion of the grisly murder jolt of violence. Back before the lout at such determination to have us know of three young boys that such crimes Tyrrell the University of Texas shot 16 innocent who he is, going to be deterred by a new happened in a big city more often than (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate people, you could barely see such vio- federal statute that says he cannot ac- we might think, but usually journalists lence on television. Now it is even used quire the guns he needs to succeed, out would not report them. The community 300 million guns at large in America. to advertise products: a pop bottle that of 300 million guns in America? was fearful of encouraging “copycat” Only a fool or a desperate politician in explodes for some visual effect, a fly- Roseburg reinforces the case made crimes. So with the Oregon massacre the midst of a campaign would believe ing pizza, that sort of fantastical thing. by the NRA. and those like it possibly the authorities more gun control is going to do much Maybe those who remonstrate against Often, the only way to stop a bad guy and the media should divulge little infor- beyond making it difficult for law-abid- America having a culture of death are with a gun is a good guy with a gun. mation to the public. Perhaps the name ing citizens to acquire guns. onto something. That’s who finally stopped Harper-Mer- of the killer should be expunged from all Ideally, every American should be cer. Regrettably, none of the innocent stories. revolted by a gunman fatally shooting IT IS DIFFICULT to foresee a dead at Umpqua was carrying a con- The current phenomenon of mass kill- unarmed citizens. For that matter, every world in which a mass murder explodes cealed weapon. ings began in the middle 1960s in Texas. American should be revolted by a ter- on the scene every few weeks, and yet Prediction: We are going to have To be specific, it was 1966 at the Uni- rorist exploding a bomb in a public area. it is equally difficult to foresee a world more of these massacres. versity of Texas where a deranged cow- There was a day when Americans were in which we shall have prevented them Why? Because we rewarded Harper- ard climbed atop the campus bell tower revolted. Think back to the era of the from happening. Just as gun control in Mercer for his barbarity in the currency and “introduced the nation to the idea cowboy and the era’s immediate after- a society with some 300 million guns is he craved, the only currency he cared of mass murder in a public space.” That math, the first half of the 20th century. impossible, police action that prevents about: fame and immortality in this is how Dr. Grant Duwe, a criminologist Think back to the era of dueling. a lone mass murder seems to be impos- world. Before Oct. 1, Harper-Mercer with the Minnesota Department of Cor- Such thoughts may seem anachro- sible. On this problem I am stumped. So was a nobody, a loser, a recluse with no rections who has studied such murders, nistic, but it might clarify your thoughts is Hillary Clinton, though she cannot ad- girlfriend. For a brief time, this nobody characterizes the current phenomenon of about mass murder. In the not-so-distant mit defeat. October 21, 2015 7 MASS SHOOTINGS: October 7, 2015 The problem isn’t guns or white men he media act as if they’re per- But as people hear details the media forming a public service by re- are not anxious to provide, they real- fusing to release details about ize that, once again: It’s a crazy person. theT perpetrator of the recent mass shoot- How long is this going to go on? ing at a community college in Oregon. When will the public rise up and de- But we were given plenty of informa- mand that the therapeutic tion about Dylan community stop loos- Roof, Adam Lan- ing these nuts on za, James Holmes Ann the public? After and Jared Lough- Coulter the fact, scores of ner. psychiatrists are Now, quick: (c) 2015, Ann Coulter always lining up ment in the United States almost always The absolute maximum number of Name the mass to testify that the requires a finding of dangerousness — mental patients per 100,000 people who shooters at the Chattanooga military re- defendant was legally insane, unable both imminent and physical — as deter- could possibly be institutionalized by cruitment center; the Washington Navy to control his actions. That information mined by a judge. Most of the rest of the the state in the U.S. — voluntarily or in- Yard; the high school in Washington would be a lot more helpful before the world has more reasonable standards — voluntarily — is: 17. Yes, according to state; Fort Hood (the second time) and wanton slaughter. you might almost call them “common the Treatment Advocacy Center, there the Christian college in California. All Product manufacturers are required sense” — allowing family, friends and are a grand total of 17 psychiatric beds those shootings also occurred during the by law to anticipate that some idiot even acquaintances to petition for in- even available, not necessarily being last three years. might try to dry his cat in the micro- voluntarily commitment, with the final used. In 1955, there were 340. wave. But a person whose job it is to decision made by doctors. After every mass shooting, the left THE ANSWERS are: Mohammad evaluate mental illness can’t be required has a lot of fun forcing Republicans to Youssuf Abdulazeez, Kuwaiti; Aaron to ascertain whether the person sitting THE RESULT of our laissez-faire defend guns. Here’s an idea: Why not Alexis, black, possibly Barbadian- in his office might be unstable enough approach to dangerous psychotics is force Democrats to defend the right of American; Jaylen Ray Fryberg, Indian; to kill? visible in the swarms of homeless peo- the dangerous mentally ill not to take Ivan Antonio Lopez, Hispanic; and One Maybe at their next convention, psy- ple on our streets, crazy people in our their medicine? L. Goh, Korean immigrant. (While I’m chiatrists could take up a resolution de- prison populations and the prevalence Liberals will howl about “stigmatiz- here: Why are we bringing in immi- manding an end to our absurd patient of mass shootings. ing” the mentally ill, but they sure don’t grants who are mentally unstable?) privacy and involuntary commitment According to a 2002 report by Cen- mind stigmatizing white men or gun There’s a rigid formula in media ac- laws. tral Institute of Mental Health for the owners. About a third of the population counts of mass shootings: If possible, True, America has more privately European Union, the number of invol- consists of white men. Between a third blame it on angry white men; when that owned guns than most other countries, untarily detained mental patients, per and half of all Americans have guns in won’t work, blame it on guns. and mass shootings are, by definition, 100,000 people, in other countries looks the home. If either white men or guns And so what is to be done? The perpetrator of the latest massa- committed with guns. But we also make like this: were the main cause of mass murder, no cre, Chris Harper-Mercer, was a half- it a lot more difficult than any other — Austria, 175 one would be left in the country. black immigrant, so the media are refus- country to involuntarily commit crazy — Finland, 218 But I notice that every mass murder is ing to get too specific about him. They people. — Germany, 175 committed by someone who is mentally don’t want to reward the fiend with pub- Since the deinstitutionalization — Sweden, 114 ill. When the common denominator is a licity! movement of the 1960s, civil commit- — England, 93 characteristic found in about 0.1 percent of the population — I think we’ve found the crucial ingredient! Democrats won’t be able to help themselves, but to instantly close ranks and defend dangerous psychotics, haul- ing out the usual meaningless statistics: — Most mentally ill are not violent! Undoubtedly true. BUT WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANOREX- ICS, AGORAPHOBICS OR OBSES- SIVE COMPULSIVES. We were thinking of paranoid schizophrenics. — The mentally ill are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence! I’ll wager that the percentage of the nation’s 310 million guns that are ever used in a crime is quite a bit lower than the percentage of mentally ill to ever en- gage in violence. As with the “most Muslims are peaceful” canard, while a tiny percentage of mentally ill are violent, a gigantic percentage of mass shooters are mentally ill.

HOW CAN these heartless Demo- crats look the parents of dead children in the eye and defend the right of the mentally deranged to store their feces in a shoebox, menace library patrons — and, every now and then, commit mass murder? 8 Conservative Chronicle 2016 ELECTION: October 11, 2015 Ted Cruz calculates a path to the nomination f America’s 58th presidential the Census Bureau’s Thom File writes: election validates Ted Cruz’s “The number of non-Hispanic white audacious “base plus” strategy, voters decreased by about two million he Iwill have refuted assumptions about between 2008 and 2012.” In the last five the importance of independent “swing” elections (1996-2012), their share of voters and the inertia of many missing eligible voters declined from voters. Critics say 79.2 percent to 71.1 his plan for pur- George percent and their suing the Repub- share of the turnout lican nomination Will declined from 82.5 precludes winning (c) 2015, Washington Post Writers Group percent to 73.7 the presidency. percent, while the Jason Johnson, Cruz’s chief strategist, Hispanic and black shares of votes cast responds: “I’m working backward from increased about four and three percent- Election Day,” because Cruz’s plan for age points, respectively. winning the necessary 1,236 conven- Nonvoting whites, especially those tion delegates is an extrapolation from without college experience, are among his strategy for winning 270 electoral Cruz’s principal targets. His geniality votes. toward Donald Trump reflects the Cruz campaign’s estimate that perhaps one- ALL PRESIDENTIAL campaigns third of the Trumpkins have not voted aspire to favorably change the composi- in recent elections. If so, Trump is doing tion of the electorate. Cruz aims to sub- downfield blocking for Cruz, beginning delphia in the east and Alabama in be- Foundation, produced Obama’s Elector- stantially reconfigure the electorate as it the expansion of the 2016 electorate tween. Cruz’s aim, says Johnson, will be al College victory. The Cruz campaign’s has recently been. by energizing people whose alienation “to improve on Romney at the margins substantial investment in data scientists Between George W. Bush’s 2000 from politics has made them nonvoters. in the Philadelphia suburbs,” do three serves what Johnson calls “behavioral election and his 2004 re-election, the Cycle after cycle, says Johnson, the points better than Romney (5.5 per- micro-targeting,” changing behavior as turnout of non-Hispanic whites in- percentage of true swing voters shrinks. cent) among African-Americans (with well as gathering opinions. If a person creased by an astonishing 10 million. Therefore, so does the persuadable por- many “two election” voters staying drives a Ford F-150 and subscribes to Barack Obama produced a surge of tion of the electorate. Cruz aims to leav- home with Obama gone) and to locate “Guns & Ammo,” he probably is con- what Johnson calls “two-election vot- en the electorate with people who, dis- and motivate many previous nonvoters servative. The challenge is to make him ers.” In 2008, the African-American appointed by economic stagnation and in Pennsylvania’s “Alabama.” In 2012, a voter by directing to him a package of voting rate increased from 2004 while discouraging cultural trends for which Obama became the first Democrat since three or four issue appeals tailored to white voting declined slightly; in 2012, Republican nominees seemed to have George McGovern in 1972 to lose the him. African-Americans voted at a higher no answers, have been dormant during Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Cruz has county chairs organizing in rate than whites. recent cycles. all 172 counties in Iowa, N.H., S.C. and In Florida in 2012, turnout of non- Consider Pennsylvania, which has WHITES WITHOUT college ex- Nev. National Review’s Eliana Johnson Hispanic whites declined from 2008 voted Democratic in six consecutive perience include disproportionate num- reports that through the second quarter, even though the eligible voting-age pop- elections and which James Carville de- bers of nonvoters whose abstention in Cruz had raised more “hard” dollars ulation increased 864,000. Nationally, scribed as Pittsburgh in the west, Phila- 2012, according to the Market Research than any of his rivals, and super PACs supporting him have raised more than all but those supporting Jeb Bush. Jason Johnson describes the delegate selection process as follows: Of the 624 delegates at stake on March 1, 231 are from Cruz’s Texas and Georgia, where Cruz inherited Scott Walker’s entire operation. With Okla- homa, whose closed primary will be especially conservative, these three states have 274 delegates, almost a quarter of the number needed to nominate. Eighty- seven of the 155 delegates allocated on March 5 will be from Louisiana and Kansas. On March 15, when winner- take-all primaries begin and 367 delegates will be allocated, Bush and Marco Rubio will compete for Florida’s 99 delegates, while Cruz is well-positioned for North Carolina’s 72 and Missouri’s 52 (Cruz’s campaign manager, Missou- rian Jeff Roe, has run many campaigns there).

WHENEVER THIS cycle’s win- nowing process produces two survivors, they might be two young, Southern, first-term Cuban-American senators. Rubio would be the establishment choice. Cruz, with his theory of the election, would not have it otherwise. October 21, 2015 9 GUN CONTROL: October 9, 2015 The more you politicize guns the weaker your case becomes fter the horrific mass shoot- it might with, say, the death of 10,000- their cause more than anything), is that that owning a gun is a civil right, that the ing at a community college plus viable babies each year or the civil- Democrats haven’t offered a single bill preponderance of owners are not crimi- in Oregon, President Barack ian deaths that occur during an American or idea (short of confiscation) that would nals or that there are 300 million guns ObamaA made an impassioned case that drone action — a person could plausibly impede any of the mass shootings or out there. gun violence is “something we should argue that we are collectively answerable overall gun violence. This is politicize:” as a nation. not a political choice, AND IF IT’S a political argument “This is a political choice that we Then again, because it’s likely you’re offering — and when hasn’t it make, to allow this to happen every few when the presi- David there is no available been? — you’ll need more than the vac- months in America. We collectively are dent asserts that political answer. uousness of “this is bad, so we have to answerable to those families who lose Americans are Harsanyi For the lib- do something.” That’s because anti-gun their loved ones because of our inaction.” collectively an- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate eral, every soci- types are never able to answer a simple swerable, what he etal problem has question: What law would you pass that EVERYTHING IN that statement is really suggests — according to his own a state-issued remedy waiting to be ad- could stop these shootings? wrong. What happened in Oregon is trag- broader argument — is that conserva- ministered over the objections of a re- Many liberals see the Second Amend- ic, and the nation should comfort fami- tives who’ve blocked his gun control actionary Republican. But just because ment as tragically misinterpreted or use- lies and look for reasonable and practical legislation are wholly responsible. The you have a tremendous amount of emo- less and guns as abhorrent, so they do ways to stem violence, but there is only problem with that contention, outside tion and frustration built up around a not believe that any legislative imposi- one murderer. Now, if government some- of the obvious fact that Republicans certain cause doesn’t make your favored tion is a trade-off — even an ineffective how bolstered, endorsed or “allowed” never condone the use of guns for illegal legislation any more practical, effective law. Many conservatives view guns as the actions of Chris Harper-Mercer — as violence (in fact, these rampages hurt or realistic. It doesn’t change the fact a civil right, so this is an unacceptable trade-off. Some don’t even view mass shooting as primarily a gun problem. October 98, 2015 DEMOCRATS: Now, that doesn’t mean guns have nothing to do with it, as Ramesh Ponnuru puts it well responding to a Slate piece: “One can simultaneously believe that The vast left-wing conspiracy the high volume of firearms contributes illary Clinton’s presidential the hard work of the House of Repre- Sure, the polls still show a potential to our high homicide rate and that these campaign is in deep and po- sentatives committee investigating the Biden candidacy trailing Clinton’s. But laws aren’t good ideas. It’s actually pret- tentially dire trouble. But that events related to the Benghazi debacle the “leader” in some polls, socialist Sen. ty easy to believe both of these things at is notH due to a “vast right-wing conspir- led Clinton down a path that included Bernie Sanders, will see his support once, since none of the regulations at is- acy,” a blast from the past that she and emails. evaporate, a la candidate Eugene Mc- sue would do much at all to reduce our her supporters are trying to resurrect. But make no mistake. There have Carthy in 1968, once the vice president high volume of firearms.” The truth is that Hillary’s biggest been few in the Obama White House takes the field. And his support would Jeb Bush took a lot of heat for as- enemies are the very same crew who rooting for a Clinton presidency. The go to Biden. serting that “stuff happens” (out of con- took her out in her 2008 race for the bad blood between the Obama and Again, make no mistake. The more text). Now, horrific stuff happens, and White House. The Democrats’ most lib- Clinton camps, particularly in the bitter liberal wing of the Democratic Party we should do what we can, balanced eral wing used what they thought would battles of the South Carolina primary would be overjoyed if Warren were to with a host of other concerns, to stop be a little known “blocking back” on of 2008, has never gone away. In some shove former “differences” aside and these shootings. But it’s worth pointing the Democratic political playing field ways Clinton as a secretary of state met become a would-be early putative vice out that less stuff has been happening. — Barack Obama— to rip away her the admonition from the first Godfather presidential running mate with Biden. It Despite all the Obama administration’s African-American support in various film: “Keep your friends close and your would deprive Clinton of another criti- fearmongering and as horrifying as any Democratic primaries, particularly in enemies closer.” It was a piece of advice cal element of her electoral magic — fe- shooting is, gun violence has precipi- South Carolina. The goal was to deliver that likely both Obama and Clinton inti- male voters. tously declined over the decades without their party’s nomination to other candi- mates equally adhered to. However, for the moment, Clinton any meaningful federal law being enact- dates, namely then-Sens. Joseph Biden still has powerful supporters in all the ed. This most likely tells us there are a or Christopher Dodd. Matt right places. Yet her soft role on the number of other social currents driving TV show Saturday Night Live with an this kind of violence. The left believes THEY NEVER counted on Obama Towery equally benign, and not very funny, that the number of guns is at fault rather winning Iowa and becoming a national (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate skit suggests that Clinton might be ap- than social ills — because no person can phenomenon. That said, the end result proaching the sort of tanking favorable be evil. So the debate takes on the same for the most liberal wing of the Demo- NOW WE HAVE leak after leak, ratings and desperate countermoves that old contours, and we focus on firearms cratic Party has been quite satisfying. story after story, seemingly pitting the could leave her flat as a New Hamp- and nothing else. That kind of political Now they want a repeat performance. Obama State Department against Hill- shire pancake. And that’s a state whose debate only makes it less likely that any- When word leaked of a recent meet- ary Clinton. What at first seemed to primary her team is already reportedly thing good will happen. ing between increasingly likely presi- most political pros to be a decently co- writing off. dential candidate Vice President Joe ordinated downplay of discrepancies in Furthermore, the upcoming congres- WHEN WE politicize a tragedy, it is Biden and the darling of leftist “progres- describing the nature of “confidential sional hearing where Clinton will testify immediately sucked into a broader ideo- sives,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth emails,” as well as the importance of about the American lives lost at Beng- logical conflict. Then conservatives (at Warren, the final piece of a more-than- the entire “private server” matter, now hazi will certainly be more “evidence” least when out of power) will see (right- expected puzzle began to fall into place. seems a cut-and-dried march toward for her team to offer regarding Repub- fully, I believe) an intrusive agenda that Of course former Secretary of State truth and justice. lican-inspired attacks. But it’s a claim is a perpetual slippery slope. (Can you Clinton blames Republicans and conser- That’s a march that will leave Hill- that, in reality, is specifically aimed to blame them when they hear this? “No, vatives for her woes. For those who have ary Clinton in the same political ditch keep Democrat and Democrat-leaning we don’t want confiscation, but look at just casually followed the increasingly she found herself in back in 2008. So independent voters from recognizing what the Australians did! They confis- disastrous tale of her emails and private it looks increasingly like Biden, a guar- her more formidable enemies. cated guns. We don’t want confiscation, server, it might seem only natural to be- anteed lock to pursue the philosophy but isn’t that Second Amendment inter- lieve this somehow is the sole work of and policies of the Obama administra- IF THERE are conspirators to be pretation so stupid?!”) Trust me, it’s not Republicans who have vigilantly pur- tion, will be the “2016 blocking back” found, they are from Clinton’s own unreasonable to treat liberal policies as if sued the real story behind the tragedy who will emerge carrying the ball to a party. They are the ones who kept their they have a tendency for mission creep that took place in Benghazi. Certainly, Democratic nomination. friends close and their enemies closer. and unwieldy expansion. 10 Conservative Chronicle MEDIA BIAS: October 9, 2015 The media’s latest phony attack on Ben Carson ow about the next time the ers and those dastardly right-wingers have identified as dangerous, stressing, rail against guns and gun control oppo- mainstream media decide to who cling to the Second Amendment however, that “we cannot do anything nents. Never once did they criticize him fabricate a controversy against right to bear arms. If Obama and the left that compromises the Second Amend- for his insensitivity and callousness, and a Hconservative presidential candidate, weren’t so hellbent on confiscating the ment.” Finally, he expressed his support he wasn’t even responding to a question. they choose something less laughable? weapons of law-abiding Americans, we for armed guards and armed teachers in He planned — no, premeditated — his The media’s latest faux gasp concerns could spend more time grieving, offer- schools, if appropriate. stunningly inappropriate remarks and Dr. Ben Carson’s comments about the ing our prayers Refreshingly, all but ignored the nation’s and commu- Oregon school shooting. When I first and later — after Carson again re- nity’s grief, choosing instead to lash out watched news reports on it, I didn’t im- the dust has set- David fuses to back down in anger at people who won’t surrender mediately grasp the reason for the fuss, tled — discussing Limbaugh from the media’s to his demands. not having the artificial sensibilities of these tragedies onslaught and the MSM. and possible solu- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate even doubles I CAN CONFIDENTLY say that tions. down — saying people are increasingly disgusted with ASKED WHAT he would do in a his experience in extracting bullets from the media’s warped and biased perspec- similar situation as the victims, Carson WHEN INTERVIEWERS showed victims has reinforced his conviction in tive and their double standard to destroy said: “I would ask everybody to attack an interest in Carson’s ideas instead of the wisdom of the Second Amendment. conservatives and shelter liberals. Just the gunman because he can only shoot trying to entrap him, it was obvious that There is no way reasonable people consider the absurdity of the media’s one of us at a time. That way, we don’t all he had given this serious thought, as he would conclude that Carson was im- trying to turn this remarkably fine man wind up dead.” Not only did he not an- suggested that we need to study the lives pugning the shooting victims. It’s clear into an ogre. Ben Carson’s popularity in- swer the way the media wanted but also of all the people who’ve carried out a he was offering his ideas, in hindsight, creases in direct proportion to his refusal he chuckled upon concluding his answer. mass shooting. He said we might em- on how people might handle such situa- to cower in the face of such attacks and No one in his right mind would inter- power psychiatrists and psychologists tions in the future. his resolve to stand on principle. This is pret Carson’s uncomfortable giggle as “to take the appropriate interventional The same media that castigated Car- one of the many reasons so-called out- a statement that he was laughing at the steps.” He would also seek a “mecha- son for offering constructive ideas on siders are doing so well in the polls and victims or is indifferent to their fate. Do nism” to keep weapons away from peo- this problem gave President Obama a will continue to. People have had enough I have to mention that he dedicated four ple whom mental health professionals total pass for lurching to his lectern to of this nonsense. decades to saving children’s lives? Yeah, I thought so. MEDIA BIAS: October 9, 2015 At the suggestion that he appeared tone-deaf and seemed callous, Carson said, “I’m laughing at them and their sil- liness,” meaning the reporters asking him questions. Comcast rolls over for Hillary It rankles the media when candidates n June, Comcast executive vice The Democrats have an overwhelm- — “Well, first, I want to thank you don’t immediately cower when accused president David Cohen hosted ing advantage on late-night comedy for your candidacy, you’re such a role of this or that sin. Carson is particularly a $2,700-a-plate fundraiser for shows and other non-news shows, from model for women my age. And so thank annoying to them, not only because he HillaryI Clinton’s presidential cam- The View to MTV to BET to Comedy you for putting yourself out there.” refuses to back down but also because paign. On the first weekend in October, Central. Comcast is just getting the soft- — “I’m wondering what your favor- he has the audacity, in their view, to es- the NBC Universal in-kind contribu- ball rolling. ite celebratory unhealthy drink is.” pouse conservative views despite being tions really kicked in: a star turn on Sharpton’s interview on MSNBC was — “My question is : What is your fa- African-American. Surely, we can all Saturday Night Live, a Sunday morning the usual handholding special. Here’s a vorite book?” understand their frustration when blacks interview with Rev. Al Sharpton, and a typical question: “I’m going to say two — “Many years ago we saw another stray from the left’s prescribed way of Monday town hall meeting on the To- words to you, Donald Trump. What do Clinton at his inauguration play an in- thinking. day program. you think?” There was the usual mis- strument and have a song. What song or Carson was not judging the victims; The Daily Beast was blunt in a head- quotation of Republicans. “Jeb Bush instrument would you play at yours?” that doesn’t even make sense. Almost ev- line: “Saturday Night Live Premiere said in addressing an issue about why Other Hillary Clinton fans asked her eryone seriously laments the tragedy, and Basically a Hillary Clinton Campaign there weren’t a lot of blacks at a particu- to explain her ideas on gun control, col- Carson, as a strong Christian, doubtlessly Ad.” Writer Kevin Fallon documented lar gathering he was addressing, and he, lege debt and whether they were any admires those courageous victims who how the aid and comfort for Clinton among other things said, they were of- Republicans in Washington who would identified themselves as Christians while wasn’t just in the skit where she played fered free stuff by Democrats. work with her. The only two questions knowing it would seal their fate. a bartender to the show’s Clinton im- How do you respond to that?” that seemed even mildly challenging to Rather, Carson said he wanted to personator. her came from Bernie Sanders fans. “plant the seed in people’s minds so that Brent NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie also if this happens again, you know, they THE SHOW began with a spoof of interviewed Clinton. At least she fo- don’t all get killed.” Mr. and Mrs. Donald Trump, with the Bozell cused on the email scandal, but it often When pressed about his response, satirical message (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate seemed like another Sharpton interview, Carson used the opportunity once again “Melania’s praise of her husband’s forwarding Democratic talking points. to criticize our stifling politically correct presidential bona fides surreptitiously THE TRANSCRIPT shows Hillary “You’re scheduled to testify before that culture. He said: “We live in a culture illuminates the lunacy of his candi- was allowed to give four-paragraph an- [special Benghazi] committee. Do you now where people decide that everything dacy.” Then came a fake commercial, swers as Sharpton nodded. One answer think it should be disbanded? That’s you say — ‘we need to set up battle lines’ which “continued the damnation of the on crime and race was 514 words long, what Nancy Pelosi has called for.” and ‘we need to get on this side of it or Republican presidential candidates, ad- almost as long as the column you’re now that side of it’ rather than collectively try- vertising Abilify, the drug for people reading. EVERY REPUBLICAN running to ing to figure out how we solve the prob- who think they can be president.” On Monday morning, the syrup face Clinton knows that the news and lem. It’s sort of an immature attitude, but Later, the fake newscast “took aim flowed again as Hillary Clinton was entertainment conglomerates in Man- it seems to be something that’s rampant not just at the GOP field, but at Bernie talking and flipping pancakes in New hattan and Hollywood are going to lay in America today.” Sanders and Joe Biden as well, all in Hampshire. These town hall meetings down miles of red carpet for her to walk He is correct. In the first place, we the pursuit of shaming viewers through are stuffed with Clinton fans who praise on. Whether all that help will ever warm wouldn’t even be having this discussion comedy. The seeming moral of the her or ask silly personal questions — all up Clinton’s image remains to be seen. if President Obama hadn’t exploited the punchlines: Can anyone sane really the better to help “humanize” the robotic But the effort will be Herculean. massacre to rail against guns, gun own- vote for anyone but Hillary?” candidate. Here’s a sample: October 21, 2015 11 BEN CARSON: October 10, 2015 Ben Carson: Hopelessly naïve or hopelessly disingenuous? en Carson is either hopelessly in place to protect white voters. “The naïve, hopelessly unprepared Voting Rights Act of 1965 forced 16 (read unqualified) to lead or states to obtain approval for every elec- a closetB General Colin Powell; which tion law change no matter how big or means he is politically closer to Obama how small. The Supreme Court in than he is to Ronald Reagan. Shelby County v. Holder I remain con- ruled that such fed- vinced that Carson Mychal eral oversight upset shelters within his the constitutional psyche a belief Massie balance by us- that America is (c) 2015, Mychal Massie ing circumstances not fair to blacks from 50 years ago and that without government intrusion to justify federal intrusion into state vis-a`-vis a continuation of race-based power. And the Court extinguished the preferences and government dictates, oversight.” (J. Christian Adams; former blacks still do not have the same avail- election lawyer, Voting Rights Section; ability of opportunity that whites do. U.S. Depart. Of Justice) The difference between Carson and oth- But apparently Carson still secretly ers who cling to such pernicious opin- harbors the belief that given the oppor- ions of equal opportunity in America is tunity, the evil white man will get you. the fard that masks it. Isn’t that why Obama, former Attorney General Eric Holder, Al Sharpton, Louis SPECIFIC TO my point thus far, on Farrakhan, the New Black Panthers, Jes- they did to Texas and South Carolina to build a brighter, stronger America that Thursday, October 8, Carson told CNN’s se Jackson, and Marxist groups like the voter ID, and citizenship verification provides equal opportunities and access Wolf Blitzer, that the Voting Rights Act Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in Florida and Georgia.” (Ben Carson to the underserved and forgotten. How- must be protected. Carson said: “Of defend the continued need for same? Jumps Shark: Open To Federal Control ever, we have a fundamental difference course I want the Voting Rights Act to Eric Holder was concerned about it Over State Elections; PJMedia.com; of opinion regarding the best way to be protected. Whether we still need it or to the extent that he determined certain 10/8/2015) achieve such an end.” But Ben Carson not or whether we’ve outgrown the need neighborhoods in the South were too J. Christian Adams focuses on the did. (4/8/2015) for it is questionable. Maybe we have, white and had to be changed. Al Sharp- untenable naïveté Carson exampled as On the surface that might sound like maybe we haven’t. But I wouldn’t jeop- ton, Eric Holder, the SPLC, et al argued he spoke. I, however, believe Carson’s an innocuous comment; it may even ardize it.” that requiring voters to have legitimate comment is deeply troubling because sound reasonable. And that I contend Comcast rolls over for Hillary The obvious questions would be: Pro- identification was racist and placed undo even if (for the sake of argument) he is is precisely why Carson is not what tected from what? From whom? hardship on black voters. naïve, his comment displays a funda- he would have voters believe. Carson This one statement I argue should re- As J. Christian Adams said: “[Pro- mental belief that America is not fair to has shown a great propensity for mak- move all shadow of doubt of Carson’s tecting the Voting Rights Act] is precise- blacks. ing statements that on the surface seem resentment and belief that blacks do not ly what the racial-interest groups and the reasonable, even laudable. But a sim- have the same opportunities that whites Democrats want — giving an attorney FORMER PRESIDENTIAL candi- ple dissection of his comments reveals do. There is no other way to interpret his general like Eric Holder revived power date Ambassador Alan Keyes never said deeply troubling fissures pursuant to the words. The Voting Rights Act wasn’t set to block state election laws by edict, as he and Al Sharpton “have the same goal: mellifluous genteelly he projects. Herman Cain never fawned over Jesse Jackson praising him for the “good work” ,he has supposedly done, but Carson so did on a Sunday morning FoxNews program that both he and Jackson appeared on together as guests. There comes a point that claiming Car- son was “just being polite” grows thin. National figures such as Dr. Walter E. Williams, Dr. Thomas Sowell, Ward Connerly, Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, Rev. James D. Manning, and of course myself have never fawned over Sharpton, Julian Bond, or Jesse Jackson — because we recognize them for what they are. Congressman, Lt. Col. Allen West has never opined the merits of Julian Bond, Al Sharpton, or Jesse Jackson. And neither has former Secretary State Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

HOLDING SOMEONE’S brain in your hands or successfully separating conjoined twins are medical accomplishments but they are not synonymous with being qualified to be president. And as we examine the comments Car- son continues to make, they portend a person who holds racial viewpoints that America has had enough of. 12 Conservative Chronicle HILLARY CLINTON: October 8, 2015 Clinton could learn from her husband’s DLC history illary Clinton flip-flopped this “Wow, that’s a reversal,” said for- week on the Pacific Rim trade mer Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, deal she once embraced, now who taxed Maryland into the ground opposingH it under political pressure from and wants to do the same thing to the her party’s extreme left wing. country. “I was against the Trans-Pacific Not too long ago, she praised the Partnership months and months ago.” 12-nation pact to sell a lot more U.S.- Republicans pounced on her, too. made goods abroad as the “gold stan- “Hillary Clinton’s painful waffling on dard” of trade agreements. But once she TPP has been a case study in politi- saw her socialist rivals gaining on her, cal expediency and is precisely why an she turned against it. over- whelming majority Is there any of Americans don’t Congress to pass “fast track” authority unemployment rate plunged to around policy or principle Donald trust her,” said Re- on the trade deal. four percent and the economy soared. Clinton truly be- publican National Then, in June, she broke with the ad- None of this happened by accident. In lieves in and won’t Lambro Committee Chair- ministration on that issue, saying she the mid-1980s, a nationwide organiza- switch sides under (c) 2015, United Media Services man Reince Prie- was standing with House Democrats tion was begun by a group of pro-busi- political pressure? bus. who were opposing Obama’s trade ness, pro-trade Democrats headed by Al Is that the kind of president we want “I’m glad she reached that conclu- agenda. With Minority Leader Nancy From and Will Marshall. They called running America — changing her mind sion,” Sanders said, but added, “I’ll let Pelosi and her rank and file in rebellion themselves the Democratic Leadership when it suits her politically, regardless the American people determine who has against any trade deal, Obama won only Council, hired a crew of policy special- of what’s good for our economy and the credibility or not.” 28 out of his party’s 188 House Demo- ists, and held annual conventions to hear American people? A thorough search of her record on crats. from like-minded lawmakers like Geor- the issue will find precious little of that. It was not only a sharp break with the gia Sen. Sam Nunn — and an up-and- FACED WITH a beating in the Dem- White House, it was a flat-out rejection coming governor from Arkansas, Bill ocratic presidential primaries, and fear- IT WAS CLINTON, as secretary of of her husband’s support for free trade Clinton, who became its chairman. ing union bosses and other special interstate, who laid out the administration’s pacts. They churned out scholarly papers ests, she caved in a New York minute. “pivot to Asia” strategy to expand trade President Reagan started the ball roll- championing free trade and other pro- “As of today, I am not in favor of what with Pacific Rim nations in a cover es- ing by enacting part one of the North investment, pro-job, pro-new business I have learned about it,” Clinton said. say in Foreign Policy magazine in Oc- American Free Trade Agreement with creation. It lit a fire among party moder- What has she learned about it, and from tober 2011. Canada, our largest trading partner. ates, businesses, entrepreneurs and free- whom? The text of the deal just came out “Our hope is that a TPP agreement Then Bill Clinton got the rest of the market activists who had rejected the Monday. Her polling numbers have been with high standards can serve as a trade pact with Mexico through Con- Democrats’ socialist-leaning ideas. declining for weeks, and her numbers benchmark for future agreements — and gress in 1993, calling it a major plank in Bill Clinton toured the country on have been shrinking as Vermont Sen. grow to serve as a platform for broader his economic growth agenda. their behalf, promoted their ideas and Bernie Sanders, a self-described social- regional interaction and eventually a Labor union leaders and Democratic rode the DLC’s pro-growth agenda all ist, has been making the trade agreement free trade area of the Asia-Pacific,” she lawmakers said it would steal jobs from the way to the White House. a central issue in his campaign. wrote. Americans and hurt our economy. In But there was one person in the Understandably, her fellow Demo- But President Obama was shocked fact, just the opposite happened: In his White House at that time who didn’t crats and others are accusing her of to learn that she had begun to waffle on second term, after Bill Clinton signed like the DLC’s agenda: first lady Hillary shameful political expediency. the issue, after the White House asked a GOP-passed capital gains tax cut, the Clinton. “She didn’t like our positions on business, trade and other policies,” a top DLC official told me. “We considered her the ‘enemy in the White House’ who was opposed to everything we were trying to do.” Sadly, the DLC no longer exists, driven into extinction by a growing mob of ultra-leftist, tax-us-into-oblivion demagogues. Democratic audiences around the country are cheering Bernie Sanders, whose entire economic agenda calls for getting rid of billionaires and million- aires, and anyone else with too much money. Bill Clinton doesn’t talk about NAF- TA and free trade anymore, and never even mentions his job-creating capital gains tax cut. John F. Kennedy’s across-the-board tax cuts are viewed with disdain by a later generation, as is his 1960 campaign declaration that “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

JUST SUGGEST cutting taxes at a Democratic gathering nowadays to “get America moving again,” and you’ll get booed, or worse. October 21, 2015 13 FANTASY FOOTBALL: October 13, 2015 Congress should hold hearings on fantasy football new form of gambling has are compiled from real football games. spreads. But the opportunity of drawing the mail reinforce state-based gambling. suddenly appeared in Amer- So instead of betting on the actual NFL a new audience of obsessive football In 2006, the outgoing Republican ica, and the outfits raking in games, fantasy football participants bet fans to cable TV was irresistible for the Congress voted overwhelmingly to ex- theA money claim that what they’re doing on something that depends on the actual NFL, which has made deals with the fan- tend the federal interstate gambling ban is perfectly legal. In the last four years, NFL games. tasy football industry. to the Internet, which was then becom- two recently formed companies, DraftK- It’s illegal in most places to bet on The National Basketball Association ing widely available. This federal ban on ings and FanDuel, have collected billions actual NFL games, but fantasy football and Major League Baseball have also Internet gambling, however, contained a from the mostly young men who place enables participants to do something been seduced by the lure of the fantasy loophole for “fantasy sports” gambling bets on their smart phones on what’s similar by betting on fantasy teams that sports gambling business, schemes that supposedly contain some called fantasy football. win or lose based which hooks new elements of skill. on how real NFL Phyllis participants so rap- Through this loophole, billions of dol- MANY PEOPLE first heard about players perform idly. As MLB ex- lars are being bet on football, to the point this when a DraftKings employee won each week in real Schlafly ecutive Robert Bow- where it overshadows sports betting in $350,000 for coming in second place in NFL games. Par- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate man explains, “It’s Las Vegas. In less than a decade, the a FanDuel contest that cost $25 to enter ticipants then daily. It’s quick. number of those enticed to play fantasy and featured $5 million in cash winnings, boost the audience for sports channels You know quickly if you’ve won or lost. football has skyrocketed to more than 50 including $1 million to the winner. The by wasting untold hours watching out- It seems so obvious. How did we miss million. New York Attorney General is investi- of-town teams that affect the outcome of this?” Hard-sell television ads entice view- gating whether the employee benefited their bets on fantasy football. ers to participate in fantasy football from inside information, but the bigger The National Football League has GAMBLING IN America has always games that can cost them many hundreds question is the eye-popping jackpot. long sought to protect football’s reputa- been strictly limited to state-sponsored or thousands of dollars, and even addict Fantasy football means imaginary tion as America’s most popular sport by lotteries and state-regulated casinos and them. Average American football fans, games played by imaginary teams in prohibiting legal bets on real football horse racing. Federal laws that prohibit mostly men, are transformed into gam- imaginary leagues, which are made up games, except in Las Vegas where heav- any form of interstate gambling where blers by get-rich-quick promises using of real players whose playing statistics ily regulated oddsmakers calculate point bets are placed by telephone or through these fantasy sports schemes. The NFL heavily promotes this because the more that people bet on fantasy BOOK REVIEW: October 14, 2015 football, the higher their television ratings and the greater their revenue. The advertisements for this during football broadcasts amount to money in the bank Wealth, Poverty and Politics for the NFL, and nearly every team in the r. Thomas Sowell, my col- income have no one working. How can the period from 1996 to 2005, found a NFL now has its own deal to profit from league and friend, told me someone who isn’t producing anything similar result. Workers whose incomes fantasy football. several years ago that he have something taken from him? were in the bottom 20 percent saw their The chairman and CEO of one of the wasn’tD going to write any more books, What about the supposed “paradox of incomes rise by 91 percent. Over the biggest Las Vegas casinos, Jim Murren, but that was two books ago, and now poverty” in a rich society such as ours? same span, those in the top one percent observed earlier this year that politicians he has just published his 45th. The man Sowell says that this is a paradox only saw their incomes fall by 26 percent. are “absolutely, utterly wrong” in pre- writes with both hands, as can be seen to those who start out with a preconcep- The outcomes of both studies give lie to tending that fantasy football is not gam- from his website (http://tsowell.com), tion of an egalitarian world in defiance the claim that “the rich are getting richer bling. “I don’t know how to run a football which lists his 45 books, 19 journal arti- of history and have a disregard for the and the poor are getting poorer.” team,” he declared, “but I do know how cles, 71 essays in periodicals and books, arbitrariness of government definitions Sowell argues that another source of to run a casino, and this is gambling.” 34 book reviews, and occasional col- of poverty. Poverty occurs au- to- confusion in discussions of economic Bookmakers from the United King- umns written in the Wall Street Journal, matically and has been man- differences is the failure to distinguish dom, where sports’ betting is legal, are the New York Times, the Washington between income and wealth. The use of trying to penetrate the U.S. market. “I’m Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Wash- Walter the term “the rich” to describe people in all for daily fantasy betting,” said one ington Star, Newsweek, the Times (Brit- higher income brackets is just one sign English bookmaker, “but nobody is in fa- ain) et al. Plus, he writes a semiweekly Williams of confusion. Being rich means having vor of unregulated Internet gambling and column for Creators Syndicate. (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate an accumulation of wealth rather than that is exactly what daily fantasy sports having a high income in a given year. is.” WEALTH, POVERTY and Politics: kind’s standard fare throughout its entire This distinction is not just a matter of The NFL’s chief marketing officer, An International Perspective is a true history. It is high productivity and afflu- semantics. Calls for raising income tax Mark Waller, told the Wall Street Jour- gem in terms of exposing the demagogu- ence that are rare in mankind’s history rates to make “the rich” pay their unde- nal that he wants to bring fantasy foot- ery and sheer ignorance of politicians and require an explanation. Government fined “fair share” are an exercise in futil- ball into the curriculum of elementary and intellectuals in their claims about definitions of poverty make talking ity because income taxes do not touch schools. “You should be able to learn a wealth and poverty. Sowell discusses about income gaps and disparities mean- wealth. Higher income taxes are a tax on lot, particularly around math. How many a number of factors that help explain ingless. If everyone’s income doubled or people trying to accumulate wealth. points do I need? How many points does wealth and income differences among even tripled, poverty would certainly be There are many other tidbits of infor- this player get?” people and nations around the world. reduced, but income gaps and disparities mation in Wealth, Poverty and Politics, By hooking children on fantasy foot- They include geographical, cultural, so- would widen. such as the impact of age on income. For ball, the NFL hopes to lock in another cial and political factors, which Sowell example, only 13 percent of households generation for its television ratings — explains in individual chapters. Readers ONE OF THE biggest problems in headed by a 25-year-old have been in and some will be hooked on gambling, will benefit immensely from the facts analyzing poverty is the vision that the the top 20 percent, whereas 73 percent too. and explanations laid out in those chap- poor are permanently poor. A Univer- of households headed by someone 60 or ters, but here I want to focus on what I sity of Michigan study followed specific older have been. MOST NFL stadiums were built think is his most important chapter, “Im- working Americans from 1975 to 1991. using taxpayer money, and the public plications and Prospects.” It found that particular individuals who DR. SOWELL’S new book tosses a should have a strong say in objecting to How many times have we been told were in the bottom 20 percent in terms monkey wrench into most of the things their use to promote gambling on foot- that the rich are prospering at the expense of income saw their real incomes rise said about income by politicians, intel- ball. With the NFL trying to push this of the poor? Sowell points out that most at a much higher rate than those in the lectuals and assorted hustlers, plus it’s a into elementary school curriculum, it is households in the bottom 20 percent in top 20 percent. An IRS study, covering fun read. time to push back. 14 Conservative Chronicle HOUSE REPUBLICANS: October 13, 2015 To keep Congress /gain White House, GOP must shape up here’s nothing the liberal rally in Bakersfield, California. They news media likes to talk about reported back to their colleagues that more than rank-and-file Re- the tea party had ignited a movement publicansT fighting among themselves. that would help the GOP win control The bitter battle for the Speaker’s of Congress. gavel has been going on for several “The people participating in these weeks, turning into a chaotic House protests will be the soldiers for our GOP leadership struggle that is para- cause a year from now,” Boehner said lyzing Congress and blocking legisla- at the time, according to a profile in the tion needed to run the government. New Yorker. The Democrats are just as delighted Eventually, Republicans started as the media by the dysfunctional divi- winning House seats — 63 of sions that have broken out across the them in the 2010 midterm aisle. But that’s elections, and 13 cold comfort for Donald more in 2014. a party that lost Throughout its majority as a Lambro Obama’s troubled result of an un- (c) 2015, United Media Services presidency, the popular president national news whose approval remains stuck in the media ran polls about how unpopular mid-40s. Congress is, particularly the Republi- This is “Family Feud,” Washington- cans. But before the media figured out style — or more to the point, a war be- what was really going on at the GOP- tween tea party revolutionaries and the leaning grassroots, the Obama Demo- GOP establishment. Only, in this case, crats were toppled from power. But if the news out of Washington, ting control of spending, or on reduc- no one threw tea overboard in Boston With little more than a year left in as we head into the 2016 elections, is ing the budget deficit or getting out of Harbor. They threw their leaders over- Obama’s presidency, House Republi- about Republicans shutting down the debt. They will be entirely focused on board, in a manner of speaking. cans hold their largest majority since federal government, the Democrats a dysfunctional government in the pro- First, House Speaker John Boehner, the 1920s. win. And nothing gets done. cess of shutting itself down. In the end, who unexpectedly called it quits after However, all that may be in jeopar- We’ve been through this drama be- the White House always wins that fight, five years of battling hardcore tea par- dy if the Republicans can’t get their act fore, and it always ends badly — for and the people on Capitol Hill lose. ty insurgents who want to play bare- together. They must choose a skillful the Republicans. knuckled hardball. speaker who can unite the party, finish Why? Because they run Congress THIS IS A Congress that is perfect- their business on the budget by year’s and, according to the Constitution, ly capable of cutting the budget over NEXT TO WALK the plank was end and reassure voters that Congress control the nation’s purse strings. time, but that means electing a presi- GOP Majority Leader Kevin McCar- is in good hands. The network news, the newspapers dent who can, and will, sign the neces- thy, who was ready to take Boehner’s and the nation won’t be focused on get- sary legislation to do that. place until the tea party activists sent BUT THERE is far more at stake word that they were nearly in lockstep here than the House and Senate elec- TRIVIA BITS: Month x, 2015 against him, too. tions. There is also next year’s presi- Replacing Boehner with McCarthy dential election, which is the key to would be a case of Tweedledum and getting good things done. Tweedledee, the insurgents said: The We’ve tried divided government, time for compromise is over. It’s time with the GOP running Congress and Trivia Bits for a new leader who can unite a di- Democrats running the executive 1. The Liberty Bell used to be in In- vided party. From now on, they said, branch, and found that it’s a recipe dependence Hall. What was that hall no more Mr. Nice Guy. for legislative paralysis. Obama will originally used for? Paul Besides being Boehner’s hand- not sign any legislation that will sig- A) Church picked lieutenant, there was another nificantly reduce spending, the budget B) Colonial legislature Paquet reason McCarthy didn’t make the cut: deficit and public debt. C) Court house (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate He’s a gaffe-prone pol in a business If Hillary Clinton wins the Demo- D) Military barracks where there’s no room for political cratic nomination and the presidency, 2. Within 12 months, who was nomi- A) Boston Red Sox missteps. she will effectively be Obama’s third nated for an Oscar (for The Aviator), for B) Cincinnati Reds And McCarthy, right in the middle term, taking office with a big-spending a Tony (for Glengarry Glen Ross) and C) San Francisco Giants of his campaign for the speakership, agenda that’s in large part an exact for an Emmy (for The West Wing)? D) Florida Marlins delivered a doozy. He suggested that copy of what we’ve been doing in the A) Alan Alda 5. Woodrow Wilson won re-election the committee to investigate the ter- last seven years. B) Leonardo di Caprio because “he kept us out of war,” then rorist attacks on the U.S. consulate in That’s why it’s imperative that the C) Al Pacino promptly got the U.S. into what war? Benghazi was set up to damage Hillary GOP holds Congress and wins the D) Martin Sheen A) World War I Clinton’s presidential candidacy. That presidency next year. 3. What other Central American B) World War II blunder, plus the fact that he didn’t But that outcome is endangered by country has Guatemala called a “lost C) Korean War have the GOP support he thought he the GOP’s fractured House caucus, province” ever since an 1859 dispute D) Vietnam War had, swiftly ended McCarthy’s bid. which can’t agree about who should be with the British? 6. Unusually, a pitcher named Diego Ironically, it was Boehner himself its next speaker. A) Belize Segui appeared in the first games played who long ago predicted the tea party There are those in the House’s tea B) El Salvador by two completely different teams, both would bring bold new leadership to the party caucus who seriously believe C) Nicaragua from the same city. Which one? GOP. they can force Obama to do what they D) Panama A) Los Angeles When the tea partiers were pack- want by refusing to pass a budget and 4. In 2001, Scott Hatteberg hit into a B) Milwaukee ing town halls in 2009, berating GOP thus shutting down the government. Or triple play, but he made up for it. In his C) Seattle lawmakers and protesting Obamacare, by refusing to raise the debt ceiling and next at bat, he hit a grand slam. What D) Washington McCarthy and Boehner flew out to a defaulting on our loans. team was he playing for? (answers on page 19) October 21, 2015 15 2016 ELECTION: October 13, 2015 Are both parties incapable of governing? mportant parts of our two great They overlook as well the public re- Kevin McCarthy’s surprise withdraw- But the combination of an unruly field of political parties seem bent on sponse to the impasse over the budget al from the speaker’s race seems to have presidential candidates — with the three demonstrating that their parties — invariably dubbed a “government left no one who wants the job capable who have never held elective office out- areI incapable of governing coherently. shutdown” — in October 2013. Re- of winning majority support. It’s pos- polling the 12 who have — and internal House Republican rebels have publicans, as the party of less govern- sible that Boehner will stay until January turmoil in the House may discredit the pushed Speaker John Boehner out the ment and one despised by mainstream 2017, after which the House party as a governing force. door without advancing a plausible media, are invari- will no longer face a Unless Democrats discredit them- successor and have risked leaving the ably blamed for Democratic presi- selves even more in the interim. Which speaker’s chair vacant. Hillary Clinton shutdowns. Poll- Michael dent lacking the in- may be happening. has backpedaled and flip-flopped to ing showed the Barone clination and abil- Hillary Clinton was expected to en- fortify her flagging campaign so much Republicans los- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate ity to compromise joy a stately progress back to the White that she risks making herself a figure ing their House and an unusually House where she worked as First Lady or of fun. majority until they ended the shutdown obdurate Senate Democratic leader. conferred as Secretary of State for a doz- and the woes of healthcare.gov became It’s also possible that the House Re- en years. But the leftward lurch of Dem- THE HOUSE rebels are under- apparent. publicans might settle on a new leader ocratic voters — at least as pronounced standably frustrated after five years in Nonetheless frustration grew. The acceptable enough to the rebels that their and arguably more politically perilous the House majority without as many rebels have not only voted against the majority — their largest since the 1920s than the rightward lurch among Repub- accomplishments as they’d like. They leadership on key measures (a common — may hold together on key issues. licans — has made the march much less overlook the four-year flat-lining of occurrence in history) but sought to oust In that case the current disarray may stately. federal spending obtained by their ac- the speaker in mid-term (very uncom- be as forgotten as the October 2013 shut- Behind in polls in New Hampshire, ceptance of the clumsy sequester limits. mon). down turned out to be in November 2014. beleaguered in Iowa, effectively matched in fundraising in the last quarter, Clinton has obviously concluded that she must re- October 9, 2015 GUN CONTROL: spond to what initially seemed the quix- otic challenge of the 73-year-old socialist Bernie Sanders. And as her poll numbers fall, the The ‘gun control’ farce: Part II chances increase of a threat from the he grand illusion of zealots for weapons protect not only those who abiding people while criminals remain 72-year-old Vice President Joe Biden. laws preventing ordinary, law- carry them, but also protect those who armed? Her response has been to skitter as rap- abiding people from having do not, for the hoodlums and criminals If we are going to be serious, as idly as possible to the left on multiple gunsT is that “gun control” laws actually have no way of knowing in advance distinguished from being political, we issues from her previous positions and control guns. In a country with many who is armed and who is not. need to look at hard evidence, instead from those of her husband. millions of guns, not all of them regis- Another feature of gun control zeal- of charging ahead on the basis of rheto- The problem is that there is no entirely tered, this is a fantasy and a farce. otry is that sweeping assumptions are ric. Sweeping assumptions need to be dignified way to change your clothes in Guns do not vanish into thin air be- made, and enacted into law, on the checked against facts. But that is sel- public. Democratic primary voters may cause there are gun control laws. Guns basis of sheer ignorance. People who dom what gun control zealots do. not be fazed by her leftward lurches on — whether legal or illegal — can last know nothing about guns, and have Some gun control zealots may cher- gun control, illegal immigrants and the for centuries. Passing laws against guns never fired a shot in their lives, much ry-pick statistics comparing nations Keystone XL pipeline, though each might may enable zealots to feel good about less lived in high-crime areas, blithely with and without strong gun control hurt her in November. themselves, but at the cost of other peo- say such things as, “Nobody needs a 30- laws, but cherry-picking is very differ- More startling is her switch on the ple’s lives. shot magazine.” ent from using statistics to actually test Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement a belief. just negotiated by the Obama administra- WHY ANYONE would think that Among the cherry-picked statistics tion. Clinton praised TPP, then being seri- criminals who disobey other laws, in- Thomas is that England has stronger gun control ously negotiated, 45 times when she was cluding laws against murder, would laws than the United States and much secretary of state, as CNN’s Jake Tapper obey gun control laws is a mystery. A Sowell lower murder rates. But Mexico, Brazil has documented. disarmed population makes crime a (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate and Russia all have stronger gun con- Just last year she praised TPP as the safer occupation and street violence a trol laws than the United States — and “gold standard” of trade agreements. In safer sport. REALLY? IF three criminals invad- much higher murder rates. your probably-not-dog-eared copy of her The “knockout game” of suddenly ed your home, endangering the lives of A closer look at the history of gun 2014 memoir Hard Choices you can read throwing a punch to the head of some you and your loved ones, are you such laws in England tells a very different her describing it as “the signature eco- unsuspecting passer-by would not be a sharpshooter that you could take them story than what you get from cherry- nomic pillar of our strategy in Asia.” nearly so much fun for street hoodlums, all out with a clip holding ten bullets? picked statistics. The murder rate in if there was a serious risk that the pass- Or a clip with just seven bullets, which New York over the past two centuries HER FLIP-FLOP on the issue now er-by was carrying a concealed firearm. is the limit you would be allowed under has been some multiple of the murder comes even as she admits to not knowing Being knocked out in a boxing ring gun laws in some places? rate in London — and, for most of that the details. “As of today, I am not in favor means landing on the canvas. But being Do you think that someone who is time, neither city had strong restrictions of what I have learned about it,” she told knocked out on a street usually means prepared to use a 30-shot magazine on the ownership of guns. PBS. This is so intellectually threadbare landing on concrete. Victims of the for criminal purposes is going to be Beginning in 1911, New York had that even the liberal analyst Ezra Klein knockout game have ended up in the deterred by a gun control law? All the stronger restrictions on gun ownership says she “is again looking like the kind hospital or in the morgue. wonderful-sounding safeguards in such than London had — and New York still of candidate who puts polls in front of If, instead, just a few of those who laws restrict the victims of criminals, had murder rates that were a multiple of policy.” play this sick “game” ended up being rather than the criminals themselves. murder rates in London. It was not the The political calculation is obvious: shot, that would take a lot of the fun out That is why such laws cost lives, instead laws that made the difference in murder pre-empt attacks from Sanders on the left of it for others who are tempted to play of saving lives. rates. It was the people. That is also true and isolate Biden, who is supporting TPP, the same “game.” Are there dangers in a widespread within the United States. on the right. But it’s not the sort of thing Even in places where law-abiding availability of guns? Yes! And one in- that will generate enthusiasm and gin up citizens are allowed to own guns, they nocent death is one too many. But what BUT ARE GUN control zealots in- turnout for a candidacy currently in disar- are seldom allowed to carry concealed makes anyone think that there are no terested in truth or in political victory? ray or respect for a candidate who seems weapons — even though concealed innocent lives lost by disarming law- Or perhaps just moral preening? increasingly unserious about governing. 16 October 21, 2015 Don’t take your guns to town, Paul he honor of it all aside, Rep. cutting production costs by moving Paul Ryan would do well to factories out of the USA. decline the speakership of the Ryan voted for all of those trade deals. House.T For it is a poisoned chalice that And Ryan voted for fast-track, the unilat- is being offered to him. eral surrender of Congress’s power even The Republican Party is not, as to amend the trade treaties that Barack some commentators wail, in “chaos” Obama brings home. today. It is in rebellion, in revolt, as it Should he become was in the early speaker, Paul Ryan 1960s when Bar- Pat would have to round ry Goldwater’s up Republican true believers re- Buchanan votes for the Trans- jected Eisenhow- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate Pacific Partnership er Republicanism trade deal Obama and Nelson Rockefeller to nominate has negotiated. But not only are Bernie the Arizona Senator for president. Sanders and Hillary Clinton opposed to TPP, Trump calls it a “disaster” that fails A SIMILAR and bristling hostility to address the critical issue of “currency to today’s establishment has arisen, in manipulation.” the GOP Congress, the country, and the The TPP has already been rechristened presidential race. by Republican rebels as “Obamatrade.” If The acrimony attendant to this mili- Ryan harbors ambitions to be president, American workers with foreign workers They are the Middle Americans Radi- tants revolt explains why Speaker John he will steer clear of this coming battle ... all of his career.” cals, the “MARS.” Boehner packed it in, singing “Zip- between nationalism and globalism. In the early 1960s, the Goldwaterites Their temperament is that of their a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” and why Donald As former Speaker Newt Gingrich demanded A Choice, Not an Echo in forebears in the ‘60s and ‘90s, but their Trump remains far out in front for the suggests, a Speaker Ryan would be em- the title of Phyllis Schlafly’s best-seller, issues are today’s. Patriotic and national- nomination. battled as soon as he took up the gavel: an updated version of which is now in istic, they cherish the country they grew Ryan’s popularity and pleasant per- “It’s easy to get 218 on the first vote, print. Those conservatives did not want up in and do not want it changed by mass sona are not going to be able to smooth and then you get to keep the government to compromise with their adversaries in migration. They want illegal immigrants over those divisions. For they are about open through a continuing resolution, the Republican establishment or Demo- sent back. On whether a devout Muslim ideology, and about issues such as free and then you get to the debt ceiling, and, cratic Party. They did not want to work should be president, they are with Dr. trade and amnesty for people here il- if you’re not careful, by Christmas you together. They wanted to change policy. Ben Carson. legally, where Ryan stands squarely resemble John Boehner.” They wanted to change the direction of When Trump says, “We never win with the establishment and against the On the issues of mass immigration the country. anymore,” that resonates to these folks. revolt. and illegal immigration that have roiled They see 21st-century America as a na- Many House rebels and Trump sup- the Republican race, Ryan is regarded BACKING THE Freedom Caucus in tion that cannot win its wars, or secure porters look on the hollowing out of as an open-borders man. Says Rosemary the House and the “outsiders” in the GOP its borders, or build an infrastructure of America’s industrial base as the direct Jenks of NumbersUSA, which is fighting presidential race are men and women of roads, bridges, rails and airports to match result of trade treaties negotiated for to halt the invasion: a similar mindset, who have been recog- those rising in other countries. the benefit of transnational corpora- “He (Ryan) has been ... pro-amnesty, nized and re-identified by the National Moreover, the spirit of revolt in the tions, whose profits are contingent on pro-mass immigration, pro-replacing Journal’s John Judis. GOP, indeed, in both parties today, is not confined to the USA. It is roiling Europe. In Britain, France, Spain, Italy and Bel- gium, nationalism is tearing at the seams of nations. Secession from the EU appears to be an idea whose time is coming. Popular resistance to the dictates of Brussels and Angela Merkel’s Berlin, and to mass migration from the Middle East and Africa that threatens to swamp the smallest continent, are familiar to the Americans of 2015 as well. Paul Ryan is not going to be able to unite a House Republican caucus that is splitting on issues like this. As chairman of the House Committee on Ways & Means, he is better off working on supply-side tax cuts.

AFTER THE GOP capture of the House in 2010, Ryan, with new Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, wrote a book about what they were going to do, titled, Young Guns. Young Guns Cantor and McCarthy are now lying toes up in the OK Corral, and if Paul Ryan becomes speaker, he will end up the same way.

October 13, 2015 This Week’s Conservative Focus 17 House Republicans Ryan and reconciliation is a powerful combination s of this writing, House Ways Kevin McCarthy before the 2014 mid- the Ryan-led Ways and Means committee Good news. and Means Chairman Paul terms. has been moving on three pieces of rec- But what happened to tax reform, Ryan has not decided wheth- Robinson: “You will pass a reform onciliation legislation to defund Planned particularly corporate tax reform? This er toA run for speaker. He has been bom- agenda, putting bill after bill on President Parenthood and target specific pieces of would be the single strongest stimulant to barded by all the Republican factions. Obama’s desk?” Obamacare for repeal. And Clifton notes the economy, which is showing danger- Even Mitt Romney says the Wisconsin- McCarthy: “Yeah, that’s our job.” that reconciliation legisla- ous signs of yet another slowdown inside ite can unify the Republican conference It never hap- tion requires just 51 the already sub-par recovery. and take ON the job. pened. No bills votes in the Sen- There are three easy pieces here. First, I applaud Ryan’s leadership and pol- passed by the Larry ate. Sure, Obama slash the corporate tax rate to 15 percent icy skills and think he would make a House and Senate Kudlow would veto this. from 40 percent and permit small busi- to repeal Obam- But at least the ness pass-through S-corps to pay the low- good speaker. (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate acare. No pro- GOP would signal er C-corp rate. This has been proposed BUT THERE’S A backstory to the growth tax reform (especially corporate its intentions should they win the White by Donald Trump. Second, allow for full current chaos of the GOP conference tax reform). No broad-based energy bill. House in 2016. cash expensing of new business invest- and the withdrawal of Kevin McCarthy No bill to retract Obama’s illegal execu- ment as a tax deduction. FedEx CEO from the speakership race. The GOP tive immigration actions. AND WITH Boehner on the way out, Fred Smith says this by itself would gen- leadership in the House and Senate has This failure has enraged the Republi- House Republicans have now developed erate a strong business-investment recov- failed to pass legislation to repeal the can grassroots and has sent three outsid- a laundry list of reconciliation provisions ery. Third, pass a repatriation provision Obama agenda and put the measures on ers — Donald Trump, Ben Carson and to repeal the individual mandate, the to bring back the roughly $2 trillion of the president’s desk. If he vetoes them, Carly Fiorina — to the top of the GOP employer mandate, the medical-device U.S. multinational cash stashed overseas so be it. We go to 2016. But it’s all been presidential field. tax, the Cadillac tax, IPAB (Independent (to avoid double and triple taxation) and broken promises. What have the congressional Republi- Payment Advisory Board) and the auto- turn the whole system from worldwide Former Bush speechwriter Peter Rob- cans been waiting for? enrollment requirement that forces small to territorial taxation. Jeb Bush has pro- inson just reminded readers on the Rico- Well, according to ace Washington businesses to enroll full-time employees posed the second and third parts here, to chet website of an interview he had with policy analyst Dan Clifton of Strategas, in Obamacare. his credit. I spoke with Paul Ryan a few days ago (coincidentally, the day before McCarthy bowed out), and he worried that Obama would never sign a pass-through small- business tax cut. He also worried that the Senate would never pass broad-based The House Republican meltdown business tax reform. “The leadership t least they aren’t brawling gave the several dozen members of the No one is blameless in the House Re- will never do it,” he said. (Orrin Hatch the way they do in the South conservative House Freedom Caucus publican civil war. The leadership is so from the Senate Finance Committee and Korean parliament — at least the ability to block him. unpopular with the grassroots because it Senate Majority Leader Mitch McCon- notA yet. It is this blocking power on the has been unimaginative and timid, and nell would have to play ball.) He also House Republicans have over the floor that the group has used again and the right of the caucus is correct to want expressed concern about the Byrd rule past few weeks seen their speaker, John again in legislative fights to frustrate to prod and challenge it. inside reconciliation that requires tax- Boehner, announce his imminent resig- the best-laid plans of the leadership. Of course, there are limits to what and-spend-and-debt packages to reduce nation under pressure and his heir appar- Through the years, one of the least be- even the shrewdest congressional lead- budget deficits. ent, Kevin McCarthy, suddenly give up lievable assurances in Washington has ership can achieve when the other party But if you go back and read the history on trying to succeed him — all while the been anyone in the inner circle of the controls the White House, but House of reconciliation, you’ll see that the Byrd party enjoys a comfortable majority and House GOP saying, “We think GOP leaders never advanced a substan- rule can be whatever you want it to be. faces no external threat from Democrats. tive alternative agenda on major issues Republicans and Democrats have defined The Republican nervous breakdown Rich and weren’t willing to push the envelope it and redefined it. is entirely self-inflicted. Understanding in their fight with the president over his And if a reconciliation provision is the House caucus is less Politics 101 Lowry executive abuses. Both the House and deemed to be “extraneous,” any sena- than scorpions in a bottle. The right of (c) 2015, King Features Syndicate Senate leadership were mostly content tor can raise a procedural objection that the caucus hates and distrusts the leader- to restore “regular order,” a priority that would be ruled on by the presiding officer ship, while most of the rest of the caucus we have the votes.” The right made could only inspire a few subcommittee on the advice of the Senate parliamentar- hates and distrusts the right, and no one Speaker John Boehner one of the most chairmen. ian. But the presiding officer need not has the standing to bring all sides togeth- miserable men in D.C., and ultimately On the other hand, the right in the follow the advice of the parliamentarian. er in a semblance of unity. ousted him in a demonstration of the House has had a clearer view of what it And the parliamentarian can be replaced power of a determined legislative fac- opposes than of what it supports, and of- by the Senate majority leader. WITH MCCARTHY, the current tion. ten has seemed willing to burn the place When we talked this week Ryan didn’t majority leader, shocking the political down in the cause of symbolic purity. seem to be in a mood to be all that ag- world by giving up his speaker bid, it’s MCCARTHY HAD bent the way We’re still a long way from the sort gressive. And when I suggested that de- not clear who can pick up the pieces. of the House Freedom Caucus — tak- of chaos that gripped the House in 1855, funding Obamacare could be put into the Some even speculate (although this is ing up its very worthy cause of killing when the politics of slavery scrambled same reconciliation bill as corporate tax far-fetched) that Republicans will have off the Export-Import Bank — but he congressional politics such that it took reform, he didn’t say yes or no — he de- to go to Democrats to forge a bipartisan was always going to have trouble claw- months and more than 100 ballots to cided to keep his own counsel. coalition to fill the office, which would ing his way to 218 even before his gaffe get a new speaker. Eventually, someone be a humbling concession that Repub- on Benghazi considerably weakened among House Republicans will have the BUT THE MORAL of the story for licans aren’t capable of governing the his position. In an interview with Sean credibility and creativity to get to 218, the post-Boehner period is that a Speaker House on their own. Hannity, McCarthy cited as a House perhaps when exhaustion with the inter- Paul Ryan along with the legislative strat- McCarthy is a pol’s pol who has good GOP success that the select committee necine warfare takes hold. egy of reconciliation and a Senate leader- personal relations with other Repub- investigating Benghazi had hurt Hillary ship that plays ball can solve the economy licans. He had a strong majority of the Clinton’s political standing — giving ONE ONLY hopes that no one starts and the GOP’s grassroots revolt. What caucus backing him for speaker, but that Democrats a weapon to use against the throwing chairs before then. are they waiting for? wasn’t enough. He needed to get 218 investigation and his fellow Republi- votes on the House floor, a threshold that cans heartburn. October 8, 2015 October 10, 2015 18 Conservative Chronicle HOUSE REPUBLICANS: October 10, 2015 Who even wants to be House Speaker? ep. Tom McClintock of Cali- cutting deals with 29 centrist Republi- feckless gestures. The simple fact is is,” Nunes told me. Their idea of win- fornia is about as conserva- cans who might care to, say, eliminate that the House Freedom Caucus does ning is “no speaker” or a “weak speak- tive a Republican as you can the mandated spending caps. Open this not have the votes to put one of its own er.” findR in Congress. As a state legislator door, it can swing either way. at the helm. It can only stop other Re- in Sacramento, he was a well-known McClintock saw a prequel to the publicans from winning 218 votes. AFTER THE outgoing House budget hawk. In the House, writes The House brawl in California’s 1995 Rep. Devin Nunes of California, a speaker, John Boehner, announced Almanac of American Politics, he has speakership wars. One Republican — McCarthy ally, has spent years work- his resignation, his former lieutenant, been “a faithful conservative vote, actually three in a row — cut deals with ing on serious policy, only Eric Cantor, took on Boehner’s detrac- though an occasionally nettlesome one the Democratic minority to thwart the to see conserva- tors in the New York Times. Cantor of- to GOP leaders seeking to limit inter- GOP majority’s tive initiatives ten hears, he wrote, the lament of the nal dissent.” Former California Gov. ability to control Debra J. drowned out GOP base that the party needs to fight: Pete Wilson has such marked antipathy the state Assem- by the chaos. “On this I agree. It is imperative that for McClintock that he took the unusu- bly. In the next Saunders “They’ve hi- we fight for what we believe in. But al step of supporting a GOP challenger term, Democrats (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate jacked the whole we should fight smartly. I have never in McClintock’s latest re-election bid. regained the ma- conservative heard of a football team that won by jority. movement,” he lamented. Indeed, he throwing only Hail Mary passes, yet IT SAYS everything about how is so fed up with this GOP minority’s that is what is being demanded of Re- dysfunctional the GOP House has THE REPUBLICANS have their trying to control the party that he sug- publican leaders today.” become that such a solo flier as Mc- largest majority since 1928 — 247 gested kicking out Republicans who Clintock has taken a stand against the seats — until you subtract Republicans won’t support the majority’s choice. GOP insurgency that torpedoed House who are willing to sacrifice unity for “They don’t understand what power Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become speaker of the House. I talked to McClintock on Thursday HOUSE REPUBLICANS: October 13, 2015 after McCarthy bowed out of the race. He was “stunned by the announcement and very disappointed.” Last month, McClintock resigned Banana Republicans? from the House Freedom Caucus, a hen Rep. Kevin McCar- ment he doesn’t want to bring to a percent of (all) Republicans — think rump of some 40 GOP members who thy (R-Calif.) walked into vote. Jordan and his conservative col- we have betrayed them.” have demanded outsize representation a Capitol Hill conference leagues want to change the system so Many within the political establish- in the GOP caucus. Before McCarthy roomW to meet with his Republican col- every member has a chance to intro- ment, including some in the major me- left, the House Freedom Caucus an- leagues last Thursday, he seemed a cer- duce bills and to get amendments con- dia, are using the word “chaos” to de- nounced its support for Rep. Daniel tain bet to be elected the next speaker sidered, debated and voted on. This, he scribe the last few days in Washington. Webster of Florida — which undercut of the House of Representatives. Sub- says, “will benefit everyone, including But just as it is difficult to remove a McCarthy’s ability to lead. sequent reports revealed McCarthy moderates and even Democrats. This stain embedded in a fabric for a long Though McClintock says he agrees already knew he didn’t have enough way we can have a debate about ideas time, so too is it difficult to change a with the group’s fiscally conservative votes to win, or if he did, it was barely and whose are better.” system that has benefitted career poli- principles, he also believes that its tac- enough, but an insufficient majority ticians, lobbyists, lawyers and big do- tics have sabotaged the conservative to rule the contentious GOP caucus. nors for decades. cause. In February, the House Freedom And so he shocked everyone when he The way to restore “order,” the way Caucus pushed to defund President emerged and announced his withdraw- Cal to change the system and make it more Barack Obama’s immigration policies al as a candidate. Thomas democratic and fair, is to elect more — and failed. In May, the caucusers members who hate the current system tried to kill the free trade bill. Failed THE WEBSITE The Hill reported (c) 2015, Tribune Media Services and vow to bend it to the will of voters. again. Worse, the caucus forced the that Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.) and Rep. This will require Republicans to seize House leadership to abandon legally Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) confronted According to Jordan, leadership is the initiative and explain to voters binding action against Obama’s “di- Speaker John Boehner over his appar- afraid to entertain any bills it doesn’t who don’t pay enough attention that sastrous Iran nuclear agreement” in ently unilateral decision to postpone believe will pass the Senate, much less the current leadership in both parties favor of a symbolic and legally mean- the election of a new speaker following get to the president’s desk. But he also is mortgaging the future with higher ingless vote. McCarthy’s withdrawal. says this kind of thinking angers voters taxes, astronomical debt and possible “A common theme through each of Some conservative members report- who elected Republican majorities in bankruptcy. these incidents is a willingness — in- edly accused Boehner of displaying the both houses and who want their repre- Jordan’s candidate for speaker is deed, an eagerness — to strip the House characteristics of a dictator in a banana sentatives to fight for their principles. Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), “but we Republican majority of its ability to set republic. Among them was Rep. Jim will talk to others,” Jordan said. Those the House agenda,” McClintock wrote, Jordan (R-Ohio), who told me in a tele- JORDAN SAYS he would have de- others presumably include Rep. Paul saying the behavior has unwittingly phone interview of the deep frustration manded that Planned Parenthood stop Ryan (R-Wis.), who has repeatedly become House Minority Leader Nancy conservative Republicans feel about receiving federal funds on the first day said he doesn’t want the job but re- Pelosi’s “tactical ally.” their leadership, which, he says, has undercover videos were released that portedly will be discussing it with his McClintock believes that represen- stymied their attempt to reduce spend- allegedly depicted employees discuss- family over the 10-day congressional tatives can and should vote their con- ing and reform government. ing the sale of fetal body parts in ways recess. About Ryan, Jordan will only science on specific legislation. But “Everything here is top-down,” to maximize profits. If the videos had say “he’s a good man.” when it comes to the party, no Repub- Jordan said. “The steering committee been shown during the congressio- lican should sabotage the leadership. runs everything. You can’t get a bill or nal testimony of Planned Parenthood ANGER IS NOT a policy, so if “We’re now in a situation where at least an amendment to the floor unless the president Cecile Richards, he says, voters want a change of direction, they 29 Republicans have taken the position steering committee approves, and the they might have changed the dynamic can have it in November by electing that if they don’t like the Republican committee is made up of members ap- in favor of those who want to defund more people like Jordan. The Founders nominee for speaker, they will com- pointed by Boehner, who as speaker the organization. made it that easy, but it’s up to us to bine with the Democrats against that gets more than one vote.” Jordan says he understands why “60 make it happen. nominee,” he told me. It’s a dangerous Jordan says that gives Boehner dic- percent of Republicans — not conser- game because Democrats could end up tatorial power over any bill or amend- vatives, not Tea Party members, but 60 October 21, 2015 19 DEAR MARK: October 9, 2015 Trade Hillary, GOP leadership and drinking vegans DEAR MARK: the media is even trying to deny that Hill- Republicans are fractured, I’m excited. Hillary Clinton announced she is ary’s decision is anything but a move to — Liberal in Texas CONTACT INFORMATION against the Trans Pacific Partnership out-liberal the socialist Sanders. Hillary which is the controversial international is moving so far to the left, the only ac- Dear Liberal: Individual Contact Information trade deal the Obama administration has tion remaining to give her some liberal As the saying goes, you’ve got to street cred is to burn her bra. been pushing. If memory serves me she break a few eggs to make an omelet. Greenberg - [email protected] was recently in favor of this trade deal. Hillary has more flip flops Granted some eggs are being thrown in Krauthammer - [email protected] Sounds like a classic flip flop in order D.C. but the squabbling going on with the to gain more liberal votes. I understand Mark GOP in Washington is not representative Levy - [email protected] it’s politics but between this flip flop and of what is going on with mainstream Re- Lowry - [email protected] Hillary’s email problems how can Dem- Levy publican voters. In fact GOP voters along Malkin - [email protected] ocrats trust her and continue to support (c) 2015, Mark Levy with many independents appear to be Massie - [email protected] her? — I’m Not Perfect But unified against establishment politicians. Napolitano - [email protected] Dear Not Perfect: than a Florida souvenir stand and if Joe Just look at the fact that Donald Trump, Saunders - [email protected] Many Democrats continue to sup- Biden enters the race she will have to Carly Fiorina, and Ben Carson are lead- Schlafly - [email protected] port Mrs. Clinton because they despise flop even more to separate herself from ing in the polls. Thomas - [email protected] the very Obama administration in which Grassroots Republicans want a leader Republicans so much they are willing Will - [email protected] to sacrifice any semblance of principles she once served. Talk about threading a with a conservative vision, not a manager and vote for a lying, reckless candidate political needle. who knows his way around the “good old who feels entitled to the presidency. Al- According to an article in The Hill, boys club” in Washington. The same fer- Contact through Creators Syndicate though I disagree with them politically, at “More broadly the former first lady said vor that’s causing problems for establish- least the other Democrats running for the there are still a lot of unanswered ques- ment candidates in the GOP primary is Michael Barone, Austin Bay, Brent presidency — Bernie Sanders, Lincoln tions (about the TPP agreement) and that also playing out in the “People’s Cham- Bozell, Pat Buchanan, Mona Charen, Chafee, and Martin O’Malley — appear sometimes agreements look great on pa- ber.” My prediction is that in a couple of Linda Chavez, Jackie Gingrich to be true to their liberal word and as of per but are in fact not that great.” If only weeks the leadership of the House will be Cushman, Larry Elder, Erick Erickson, this column don’t appear to be ethically Mrs. Clinton used that same logic with settled and it will be stronger than ever in Joseph Farah, David Harsanyi, Laura the Iran nuclear deal. challenged. the name of conservatism. Hollis, Terry Jeffrey, Larry Kudlow, Banana Republicans? CNN reported Hillary supported the Let me get this straight; with Iranian agreement 45 times. In fact while Sec- leadership screaming “Death to Amer- DEAR MARK: David Limbaugh, Dick Morris, Wil- retary of State she actually helped craft ica,” Hillary officially supports an Iran I thought you might get a kick out of liam Murchison, Paul Paquet, Dennis the agreement and praised it publically, deal that not only looks bad on paper but this. I just read an article stating that 1 Prager, Ben Shapiro, Thomas Sowell, even referring to it as the “gold stan- to paraphrase her own words “is in fact in 3 vegetarians eat meat when they’re Matt Towery dard in trade agreements.” In her recent not that great.” Maybe she’ll flip flop on drunk. Since most vegetarians tend to be “memoir” Hard Choices, Mrs. Clinton this one. politically liberal, isn’t this just another Contact - [email protected] acknowledged the deal wasn’t perfect but case of liberal hypocrisy? — Where’s the Contact through Universal Press said that it would still benefit American DEAR MARK: Beef workers. There is chaos in the House of Rep- Dear Beef: I guess you can call me a Ann Coulter So what exactly changed in the agree- resentatives with Republicans fumbling hypocrite as well because when I’ve been Contact by mail : around trying to find a new Speaker of ment that caused her to flip flop? China? drunk, I’ve eaten some vegetables. c/o Universal Press Syndicate No. Some type of tariff? No. Clean air the House and I love it. The neo-cons are E-mail your questions to mar- regulations? No. Bernie Sanders rising battling the establishment Republicans [email protected]. Follow Mark on Twit- 1130 Walnut Street in the polls? Ding ding ding. Nobody in and its becoming a bloodbath. Anytime ter @MarkPLevy Kansas City, MO 64106

Answers from page 14 TRIVIA ANSWERS Trivia BITS ANSWERS 1) Independence Hall once housed Pennsylvania’s legislature. 2) Alan Alda nearly got three quarters of an EGOT in a single 12-month span. 3) Guatemala covets Belize. 4) Hatteburg was playing for the Red Sox. 5) Wilson got the U.S. into WWI. 6) He played for the Seattle Pi- lots and the Seattle Mariners.

Need to make a correction on your mailing label? Contact us at 800-888-3039 or [email protected] 20 Conservative Chronicle PORTUGAL: October 14, 2015 Portugal’s economy faces political stress test Will Portugal once again succumb to ment. The Socialist Party (PS) finished a stable government and respond to po- Which may be why several key PS the ravages of Big Debt? second with 85 seats. litical and market “uncertainty” gener- leaders, like Francisco Assis, oppose Big Debt is not just an economi- Since the election Passos Coelho and ated by the unsettled election. That may a coalition with the Communists and cally strangling burden, it is debt that PS leader Antonio Costa have discussed be true in the short term but it is also Left Bloc. They regard confrontation increases because it lacks political dis- a new power-sharing arrangement. self-serving and ironic. Many inves- with the Eurozone’s leading nations and cipline. However the PS is feeling the allure tors fear that a government withdrawal from NATO as foolishness. For some three years, Portugal’s co- of power and — without Passos Coel- Assis told media a PS coalition with the alition government, led by Prime Min- perhaps — a sud- Austin ho in charge will re- hard left is “absurd.” Supporting the ister Pedro Passos Coelho, exhibited den nostalgia for turn to welfare-state European Union and the Eurozone are just the kind of calculated economic welfare socialism. Bay largesse. He tem- fundamental PS policies. discipline and political guts it takes to Costa opined that (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate porized socialist A PS and left-wing coalition could first curb and then begin to defeat Big the election indi- fantasy. return Portugal to the malaise of 2011. Debt. In 2011, Big Debt damaged Por- cated people were tired of — here it is The PS has many fundamental dis- The interim work and sacrifice would tugal. Lisbon got the Greek Disease. Its — austerity. agreements with the Communists and go for nothing. economy shrank by almost two percent. Costa is discussing a left-wing coali- Left Bloc. The hard leftists oppose Eu- The country had to beg for an interna- tion. Two hard-left parties, the Commu- rozone economic rules and demand Por- THERE IS A media lesson here. tional bailout. nists and Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquer- tugal leave NATO. As this column goes Until the election 10 days ago, Lisbon’s Under Passos Coelho’s guidance, da), control enough seats to give Costa to press, a report appeared that the left- tough policy choices and hard work that changed. Portugal became the a majority. ists are willing to drop these positions. garnered little notice. Yet those policies anti-Greece. Passo Coelho’s Christian That sounds like an old-time communist are the sort that seed positive long-term Democrats and its coalition partner, the COSTA SUPPORTERS are arguing tactical promise, a promise that will be economic gain, the kind of change that Portuguese Social Democratic Party that they are “better positioned” to form broken once power is obtained. brings real hope. (PSD), committed themselves to remaining in the Eurozone and EU. To re- HOUSEHOLD INCOMES: October 14, 2015 main meant reforming Portugal’s economy and —ultimately— paying down debt. They formed an alliance, Portugal Ahead (PaF). The Eurozone’s productive econo- Married couples with kids wealthier mies insisted debt-plagued Eurozone hen the Census Bureau housing unit with or without the pres- ly with people to whom he/she is not members reform or leave. By fits and recently released its 2014 ence of children under 15 years old.” related” — did slightly better. starts, Germans, Frenchmen and even data on household income A married-couple household is com- Their median income when the Italians provided discipline. Italians in theW United States, the numbers once posed of “a husband and wife enumerat- householder was 24 or younger was complained that Greek government again pointed to a basic trend that this ed as members of the same household.” $31,018, rose to a peak of $50,929 for worker pensions were more lavish than nation’s liberal political and cultural Not surprisingly, Americans tend to householders 30 to 34, and dropped to theirs. “Don’t fund your retirement on elite has no interest in publicizing. have higher incomes in middle age than $19,652 for householders 75 or older. our money and retire better than we Married people with children gen- in youth or old age, and married couples Yet among married-couple families will!” Such common sense secured sup- erally do better financially than other tend to follow this trend along a higher where the householder was 24 or young- port for fiscal discipline in Paris, Rome Americans. income line than other types of house- er, the median income was $43,815 in and Berlin. holds. 2014. That rose to a peak of $101,434 Portugal’s coalition got the message. AS PREVIOUSLY noted in this when the householder was 45 to 49, It implemented unpopular but finan- column, this was true in 2013. We now and declined only to $49,924 when the cially astute policies. The coalition con- know it remained true in 2014. The Terry householder was 75 or older. stantly reminded Portuguese citizens overall median household income in the Jeffrey The Census Bureau also divided that remaining in the Eurozone meant United States in 2014 was $53,657. American households into five equal curbing government services, cutting Female householders in a nonfam- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate brackets, ranked from lowest to high- pensions, raising taxes and improving ily household had a median income est, according to their incomes. It then tax collection. of $26,673, according to the Census The overall median income was showed (in Table HINC-05) what per- These are the policies that angry Bureau’s Table HINC-01. Male house- $34,605 for householders 24 or younger centage of each type of household fell Greek demonstrators demonize as aus- holders in a nonfamily household had a in 2014, according to the Census Bu- into which bracket. terity. The Austerity Demon is a very median income of $39,181. Unmarried- reau’s Table HINC-02. It peaked at Married-couple families were the powerful propaganda tool. couple households with children under $72,532 for householders 45 to 49, and most likely to be in the top bracket (32.4 But glory be. The coalition program 18 had a median income of $50,283, declined to $28,535 for householders 75 percent were there) and least likely to brought success. Portugal’s bond rating according to Table HINC-04, and un- or older. be in the lowest (seven percent). Among left the junkyard. The so-called Troika married-couple households with no nonfamily households, 35.3 percent (European Commission, European children under 18 had a median income FOR FEMALE householders liv- were in the bottom bracket and 8.2 per- Central Bank and International Mon- of $64,645. ing alone at 24 and under, the median cent were in the highest. etary Fund) ended its economic over- But married-couple households with income was only $16,992. That rose to a A large majority of married-couple sight program. no children under 18 had a median in- peak of $37,908 for females living alone families — 58.8 percent — were in the Meanwhile, back in Athens: the come of $76,000, and married-couple at 40 to 44, and then fell to $18,237 for top two brackets. An even larger majori- same old economic stagnation and po- households with children under 18 had females living alone at 75 or older. ty of nonfamily households — 60.8 per- litical finger-pointing. a median income of $87,728. For male householders living alone cent — were in the bottom two brackets. In the Oct. 4 national election, how- In deriving its household income at 24 and under, the median income was Why do Americans who maintain ever, Passos Coelho paid a price at the numbers, the Census considers a fam- $25,303. That rose to a peak of $45,525 traditional families generally do so well polls. The Austerity Demon’s propa- ily “a group of two people or more (one for males living alone at 30 to 34 and compared to other Americans? ganda power played a role. of whom is the householder) related by then fell to $29,514 for males living Passo Coelho’s party base won the birth, marriage, or adoption and resid- alone at 75 or older. SURELY, THERE are many practi- biggest chunk of the vote (38 percent), ing together.” An “unmarried couple” Nonfamily households — which cal reasons. But ultimately, it is the force which translated into 104 of parlia- household “is composed of two unre- consist “of a householder living alone of love, not greed, that drives them into ment’s 230 seats. Close but not enough. lated adults of the opposite sex (one of (a one-person household) or where the the top income brackets. It takes a majority to form a govern- whom is the householder) who share a householder shares the home exclusive- October 21, 2015 21 IRS: October 8, 2015 Impeach the IRS director: Cover-up of malfeasance “Look,” wrote Lois Lerner, echoing House ... shall have the sole power of Congress,” and “destroyed documents under oath that he had “confirmed” that Horace Greeley, “my view is that Lin- impeachment.” The current IRS direc- under subpoena.” He accuses Koski- none of the tapes could be recovered. coln was our worst president not our tor, John Koskinen, has earned this at- nen of “lies, obfuscation and deceit:” Lerner conducted government busi- best. He should [have] let the [S]outh tention. “He assured us he would comply with ness using private email, and when she go. We really do seem to have two total- The Constitution’s Framers, know- a congressional subpoena was told that the IRS’s instant messag- ly different mindsets.” Greeley, editor ing that executive seeking Lois Le- ing system was not archived, she replied: of the New York Tribune, was referring officers might not rner’s emails. Not “Perfect.” Koskinen’s obfuscating testi- to Southern secessionist states when he monitor them- George only did he fail to monies have impeded investigation of urged President-elect Lincoln to “let the selves, provided Will keep that promise, unsavory practices, including the IRS’ erring sisters go in peace.” the impeachment we later learned sharing, potentially in violation of tax Greeley favored separating the na- recourse to bol- (c) 2015, Washington Post Writers Group he did not look in privacy laws, up to 1.25 million pages tion from certain mindsets; Lerner fa- ster the separation earnest for the in- of confidential tax documents. Tom Fit- vors suppressing certain mindsets. At of powers. Federal officials can be im- formation.” ton of Judicial Watch, which has forced the IRS, she participated in delaying peached for dereliction of duty (as in the IRS to disgorge documents, says for up to five years — effectively deny- Koskinen’s failure to disclose the dis- AFTER KOSKINEN complained some “prove that the agency used donor ing — tax exempt status for, and hence appearance of emails germane to a con- about the high cost in time and money lists to audit supporters of organizations restricting political activity by, groups gressional investigation); for failure to involved in the search, employees at a engaged in First Amendment-protected with conservative mindsets. She retired comply (as in Koskinen’s noncompli- West Virginia data center told a Trea- lawful political speech.” after refusing to testify to congressional ance with a preservation order pertain- sury Department official that no one In July testimony, Koskinen consis- committees, invoking Fifth Amendment ing to an investigation); and for breach asked for backup tapes of Lerner’s tently mischaracterized the Govern- protection against self-incrimination. of trust (as in Koskinen’s refusal to tes- emails. Subpoenaed documents, in- ment Accountability Office report on tify accurately and keep promises made cluding 422 tapes potentially contain- IRS practices pertaining to IRS audits AS THE IRS cover-up of its and to Congress). ing 24,000 Lerner emails, were de- of tax exempt status to groups. He her malfeasance continues, the Repub- Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the stroyed. For four months, Koskinen wrongly testified that the report found licans’ new House leaders should ex- Oversight and Government Reform kept from Congress information about “no examples of anyone who was im- ercise this constitutional power: “The Committee, says the IRS has “lied to Lerner’s elusive emails. He testified properly selected for an audit.” He mischaracterized the report’s criticism of IRS procedures for selecting exempt October 14, 2015 Married couples with kids wealthier 2016 ELECTION: organizations for audits. Contrary to his testimony, the report did not find that “individuals” were “automatically” selected for audit. The Carly Fiorina: A falling star report did not investigate audits of in- he rapid rise and equally rapid Then, what happened? The blogs left Fiorina bleeding. dividual taxpayers; it reviewed selec- fall of Carly Fiorina deserves There was no major scandal or faux But the larger story here is the ex- tion practices for audits of exempt our attention. Before the most pas to bring Fiorina down. While the treme sensitivity of the Republican pri- organizations. The report noted, and recentT debate, she was languishing in impact of her debate performance may mary electorate’s evidence of impurity Koskinen neglected to mention, that the the polls with only four percent of the have worn off over time, why did she in the presidential candidates. Blessed IRS tracks information about high-net- vote (CBS, Sept. 9-13). After a smash- suffer this fate while Trump, Ben Car- with a plethora of articulate, young worth individuals. Congress should in- ing performance in the second debate, son and Marco Rubio have continued to candidates -- especially compared to vestigate whether that tracking includes she soared into second place with 15 gain from their debating styles? the old, old Democratic field -- primary contributions to political committees percent (CNN, Sept. 17-19). Now the While the New York Times contrib- voters are determined not to nominate and issue groups and whether the IRS most recent polls have her falling back uted to her fall with a front page article someone who will sell them out once then initiates audits of donors. into the pack with only six percent sup- chronicling -- and bashing -- her record elected. The slightest indication of a Koskinen has testified that “there’s port (CBS, Oct. 4-8). at Hewlett Packard, it was the bloggers lack of fealty to Republican conserva- no evidence that anybody outside the What happened? who brought Fiorina down. tive ideology is enough to turn them off. IRS had ... any conversations with In this context, Ted Cruz’s slow as- [Lerner] about [targeting conservative HER INITIAL rise was partially Dick cent in the polls bears watching. Po- groups] or that she even had directives due to her headline-stealing riposte to sitioning himself as the “consistent internally.” Donald Trump for his ill-considered Morris conservative,” he plays into the Repub- How could he assert the absence of evidence that he had not sought? He comments demeaning her physical ap- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate lican angst. After winning the election pearance. By linking her cause to that of 2010 and 2014, the GOP voters find had testified that he had conducted no of all women, she effectively played off The Times story regaled the saga of how themselves sold out by John Boehner investigation of the targeting. Trump’s publicity and vaulted to the top Fiorina had induced HP to buy Compaq and Mitch McConnell’s refusal to stand Even if, as Koskinen says, he did not of the field. despite evidence of its declining clout, effectively against President Obama. intentionally mislead Congress, he did But the deeper reason for her climb and emphasized the 30,000 layoffs un- And they are stung by the fact that not subsequently do his legal duty to was that Republicans want to nominate der her tenure as CEO. Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed correct the record in a timely manner. a woman to counter Hillary Clinton, and by Bush-43, single handedly sustained Even if he has not committed a crime they found Fiorina, a self-made woman, THE BLOGGERS really did a num- the constitutionality of Obamacare. such as perjury, he has a duty higher a far more authentic model of female ber on Fiorina, explaining her lack of than merely avoiding criminality. advancement than they thought Clinton conservative credentials. They quoted THE REPUBLICAN electorate is represented. Here was a woman who did her 2010 comment, during her contest determined to nominate a candidate who IF THE HOUSE votes to impeach, not depend on her husband’s career to with Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer will not leave his principles at home af- the Senate trial will not produce a two- move ahead and who did not have the that Roe v. Wade was “settled law” and ter he is elected. This distrust has had a thirds majority needed for conviction: baggage of scandal and secrecy that bur- noted her endorsement of Marco Ru- lot to do with Jeb Bush’s failure to catch Democrats are not ingrates. Impeach- dens Clinton’s candidacy. bio’s plan for amnesty for immigrants on and had everything to do with Kevin ment would, however, test the main- Fiorina showed an eclectic knowledge here illegally, her support for Sonia McCarthy’s withdrawal from the speak- stream media’s ability to continue ig- of national affairs and fluently recited Sotomayor for the Supreme Court and er’s race. Conservatives feel betrayed noring this five-year-old scandal, and key facts about our weakened defense her willingness to weaken Proposition and are finely attuned to evidence of would demonstrate to dissatisfied Re- posture. She seemed like a nonascorbic, 13, which holds down property taxes in disloyalty in their candidates. publican voters that control of Congress scandal-free alternative to Clinton. California. can have gratifying consequences. 22 Conservative Chronicle GOVERNMENT: October 8, 2015 A matter of trust: Performing fiduciary duty f you have ever worked in a government leads citizens to wonder parent to her party’s nomination, has gal duty to act solely in another party’s place where you don’t trust your and worry about what elected officials been plagued by continuing and con- interests. Parties owing this duty are co-workers, you understand how are doing, often for good cause. tinual questions regarding her use of a called fiduciaries. The individuals to thatI can warp your thinking and there- private email server during her tenure whom they owe a duty are called prin- fore your actions. You begin to doubt IT ALSO EXPLAINS, to some de- as secretary of state. Her use of a pri- cipals.” everything you are told, you constantly gree, why outsiders, in particular Don- vate account to carry out public busi- In the case of elected officials or look over your shoulder and behind ald Trump, are at the top of the polls ness was not simply a matter of poor government employees, the principal your back in an attempt to find out in the Republican nomination for presi- decision-making; it calls into question would be the people they represent. what’s really going on. You become dent, and why many Democrats are pin- whether she can be trusted. The question is: Are they not only paranoid, uncertain and unsure of re- ing for Vice Presi- Such questions were reliable, good, honest and effective, ality. You spend more time and energy dent Joe Biden to blamed throughout but are they performing their fiduciary trying to discern the truth than working join in the race. Jackie the summer for responsibility? Are they putting the to reach a collective goal. Pollster Frank Gingrich causing her poll interests of the people they represent Luntz got it right Cushman numbers to plum- ahead of their own interests? CONTRAST THIS with an environ- in August when (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate met. ment where people say what they mean discussing GOP Is authenticity THAT IS THE next question that and mean what they say; where com- presidential candidate Donald Trump’s in words and phrases enough? No, but the candidates on both sides of the mon goals are understood and agreed high poll numbers. Voters “want some- it’s a start. aisle should have to answer. We should upon; where truth and trust prevail; and one that says what they mean, means Elected officials and government all continually call for higher responsi- you can rely on others to back you up, what they say,” he told Fox’s Sean employees should go one step further, bility and honesty from the people who complete their portion of the job or just Hannity. “It’s because of his persona, and follow the lead demanded of mem- represent us. Until then, we will con- hold up their side of the bargain. In this not his policies.” bers of corporate boards of directors. tinue to watch dysfunction reign. scenario, great progress can be made Democratic presidential candidate The Cornell University Law School together. Hillary Clinton, the original heir ap- website defines fiduciary duty as “a le- Trust matters. Truth matters. The American National Election October 13, 2015 Studies survey first asked the public CONSERVATIVES: about their trust in government in 1958. At that time, public trust in our government was 73 percent. By the time I was born, in November 1966, that number Who’s ‘crazy’ around here? had slid to 65 percent. Nearly half a t strikes me all of a sudden that People who just won’t leave things not be president now. But he is. We the century later, we would be lucky to live a word spoken on behalf of the alone — because, frankly, they’re people returned him to office. in a country where nearly two-thirds of Republican Party’s “crazies” smarter than us (and our present presi- What does that mean? It means our the populace trusted the government mightI not come amiss. dent is one of them) — are in charge. president may not be so far out in front “always or most of the time.” Ah, those half-wits, those yo-yos, Theirs is a new vision of what America of popular opinion as is sometimes By November 1974, at the time of those howlers at the moon — just look ought to be: less proud, less confident, supposed. It means there may be less President Richard Nixon’s resignation at ‘em! Overthrowing House speak- less optimistic; more ashamed of its appetite among us for cutting taxes and over the Watergate scandal, this trust ers, threatening to shut down Congress heroes and its history; ready to make reducing regulations than — I’ll put it number had fallen to 36 percent. over funding for Planned Parenthood, restitution for its national sins. this way — there jolly-well deserves to In 1980, when economic times were allowing no end to trouble for respon- be. It may mean that traditional moral tough, trust in government fell even sible GOP leaders! And all of this to teachings and arrangements enjoy a further, to 25 percent. By the end of the vast entertainment of the liberal smaller public than the let’s-do-what- President Ronald Reagan’s first term, media. William we-want-to-do faction does. It may trust had rebounded to 47 percent. Yes, Murchison mean that parity with other societies Americans are driven by the economy; SO, WHAT kind of word might be appeals as an ideal to more Americans America works best when Americans appropriate to speak on behalf of the (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate than does star-spangled American ex- are working. House’s Freedom Caucus and their al- ceptionalism. A decade later, tougher economic lies in the Senate, such as Ted Cruz? Barack Obama is the president In the lamentations of the “cra- times again made a difference, as did Let’s steer clear of considering the of Restitution in undiluted form. He zies” can be detected an exasperation a broken campaign promise. When Re- speak-loudly-and-lay-about-with-a- wants to do penance for such things I am certain that John Boehner — a publican President George H. W. Bush big-stick tactics, asking instead how it as allowing concentrations of wealth, true conservative — shares in spades. raised taxes after having pledged during could have come to this. failing to spread opportunity more No conservative welcomes installing his campaign not to do so, trust num- I speak as one who thinks John widely and using force to advance for- someone else’s idea of useful change bers fell sharply, to 25 percent. Boehner should continue to run the eign and domestic aims. in place of his own idea, least of all Since then, the trust number peaked House; who thinks shutting down the when change X or change Y makes life briefly at 60 percent after the attack on government would make zero sense; A SUBSIDIARY point about the more disagreeable, more irrational, our country on September 11. Patrio- and who regards Donald Trump as president’s achievement rarely re- less free. As at present, if you please, tism under fire made a difference. By a shameless blowhard, to be trusted ceives acknowledgement. It is that he in the Land of Obama. September 2005, after Hurricane Ka- no farther than the present writer can doesn’t stand out in left field all by We conservatives are a prickly trina, those who trusted the government throw the family grand piano. The himself, magically retiring batters and breed. None of us agrees with govern- fell to 25 percent. The most recent num- thought of Trump in possession of any runners of the conservative persua- ment regulation. The great majority ber of people who trust our government political office higher than second as- sion. He won, fairly and squarely, two of us believe the Good Book is good is 24 percent, with the highest under sistant dogcatcher gives this writer the presidential elections. His party, for for mighty specific reasons. We find President Barack Obama at 29 percent. willies and the shakes. the first two years of his presidency, American ideals more plausible on the So what does this deficit of trust So, yes: How could it have come to controlled Congress — by gift of the whole than ISIS’ or Czar Putin’s. That mean, and does it matter? According this? Here’s the surprising part: It just sovereign people. These same sover- can make us, in times like these, more to the Merriam-Webster online diction- about had to, given the country’s mi- eign voters consented to his diagnoses cranky than usual. ary, trust is the “belief that someone or gration over the past half century from and surgical procedures. Had the case something is reliable, good, honest, ef- comparative (I said comparative) calm been otherwise, his procedures would BUT WE’RE NOT crazy. And tru- fective, etc.” This deficit of trust in our to a state of constant revolution. have been called off in 2012. He would ly, neither are the “crazies.” October 21, 2015 23 MIDDLE EAST: October 7, 2015 Dangerous road ahead: Security and peace undermined here is a time, as Ecclesias- years ago (1991) when it was Kuwait tes reminds us, to plant and a that had been occupied by Saddam time to uproot, a time to kill Hussein’s Iraq, and the United States andT a time to heal, a time to tear down had a different president (George H.W. and a time to build, a time to be silent Bush) and a different and savvier sec- and a time to mend, a time for war and retary of state (James Baker). It was a time for peace ... and now is a time a time when this country to stop denying meant business that America, and Paul — and not just the West in gen- business with dic- eral, has suffered Greenberg tators. “George,” a strategic defeat. (c) 2015, Tribune Media Services Margaret Thatch- For all signs indi- er, the Iron Lady cate that this feckless administration’s herself, told that American president, nuclear deal with the mullahs in Tehran “this is no time to go wobbly.” And he is already undermining this country’s didn’t. security and the world’s peace. The But now the country has a president question for those of us who believe who does little but wobble. Which in freedom is no longer how we can means nothing good for America, our derail this dangerous deal, but what we allies or what’s left of the free world. propose to do about it as it takes effect. Country after country feels the pressure, and decides to just go along with YES, THERE was a time when an Washington’s uncertain lead. aggressive regime backed by a couple of world powers, Russia and Commu- YES, THERE is still Israel, and nist China, could be forced to disgorge from time to time there has been talk its conquest — by military or diplo- about the Israelis finally rousing them- nouncing the mullahs’ plans to get a the means to deliver it. Like taking out matic means or both. But that was selves and doing more than just de- Bomb of their own — and acquiring Iran’s widespread network of nuclear facilities. After all, the Israelis have acted before to avert such a clear and Who’s ‘crazy’ around here? HILLARY CLINTON: October 8, 2015 present danger to their existence — specifically, Iraq’s in 1981 and Syria’s in 2007, with no serious protest from the Arab world or the world in general, The ‘new’ Hillary Clinton which still recognized a right to self- illary Clinton is borrow- presented herself as warm, fuzzy and candidacy and its over-the-top criti- defense on the part of a beleaguered ing from Richard Nixon, a funny, characteristics heretofore un- cism of President George H.W. Bush. nation. But this is a different world man she worked to impeach known in the former first lady, former Maybe NBC will come to stand for with different leaders in charge, and whileH a staff member of the House Ju- New York senator and former secre- “Nothing But Clinton.” not beneficent ones. diciary Committee in the early 1970s. tary of state. Today show co-host Savannah Guth- Yes, the Israelis could still accept Like Nixon, whose handlers success- In case there was any doubt as to rie recently “interviewed” Chelsea Mission Impossible and take out Iran’s fully fooled a majority of voters by where NBC’s political heart is, the Clinton, a former NBC correspondent. centrifuges at Isfahan, another key trotting out a “new Nixon” after his opening segment of the show ridiculed Do you think that might have been nuclear plant at Natanz, and the fa- election defeats in 1960 and 1962, several Republican candidates NBC’s attempt at buying influence and cility that produces “heavy water” at Hillary Clinton is trying to change her access to the Clintons? You’re such a Arak. Then the Iranians would doubt- public image with voters, a majority of cynic. less strike back by unleashing their whom finds her Unlikeable, to borrow Cal Guthrie asked Chelsea these hard- terrorist allies, Hezbollah in Syria and from the title of Ed Klein’s new book. Thomas hitting questions about her mother: Hamas in Gaza, as they have in the In an interview with Newsmax TV, “What’s she like as a grandmother? past. But this time Washington might Klein said of the Democratic presiden- (c) 2015, Tribune Media Services I mean, paint us a picture of Hillary not respond with even diplomatic sup- tial frontrunner, “There’s something Clinton at home, hanging out, talking port, let alone military force. always behind what she’s saying, and as mentally ill and in need of phar- baby talk. ... You say she sings. Does ... there’s a calculation about her. You maceutical help. Not content with the she have a good voice?” THIS TIME not even the Israelis can’t get elected president of the Unit- candidates, SNL even mocked Donald At least SNL has the excuse of being might resort to a military strike, even ed States if 57 percent of people think Trump’s wife, a former model. McK- produced by the network’s entertain- though they’ve talked a good game. you’re a liar, untrustworthy — and innon as “Hillary” said if she’s elect- ment division. The news division and For there are indications that they’ve they do.” ed she plans to nail Trump’s hair to Guthrie committed journalistic mal- lost heart for any such initiative, hav- the wall in the Oval Office. Yucks all practice with questions like that. ing postponed it for so long. And when HILLARY AND her staff have not around as the mostly young audience For that reason, the forthcoming a nation has lost heart, it’s lost every- been secretive about their plans for a went wild with laughter and applause. Democratic debates should include one thing. Or soon will. At this dangerous makeover. They announced it to the I wonder if shows still have the old ap- well-known conservative journalist, as point, Israel would seem to have about New York Times. plause signs to ignite fake spontaneity, was the case in the second Republican the same chance of defeating a ruth- The biggest step so far in her trans- which would be appropriate in Hill- presidential debate when Hugh Hewitt less aggressor as Czechoslovakia did formation came last weekend on Sat- ary’s case. of the conservative Salem Radio Net- in 1938, or Poland a year later. It’s a urday Night Live. In a sketch featuring work was a panelist. familiar story, and not a happy one. Kate McKinnon, the designated Hill- DURING THE 1992 campaign And the same unhappy ending looms ary character for this election cycle, when Bill Clinton ran for and won the THERE IS no “new Hillary,” any — unless the Israelis rally at the last the real Hillary appeared as a bar- presidency, CNN was referred to by more than there was a “new Nixon.” minute, and once again become the Is- tender named “Val.” Reading from cue critics as the “Clinton News Network” It’s all a cover-up, like Watergate. rael of old. cards with scripted political and even for what they perceived to be the cable self-deprecating jokes, the real Hillary network’s uncritical boosting of his 24 Conservative Chronicle RACE: October 13, 2015 Liberal cynicism and double standards on race air people are disgusted with president of the United States and believe they are — or should be — monolithic obvious implication that Republicans, in GQ columnist Drew Magary’s in creationism” — as opposed to “evolu- creatures and that those who deviate are criticizing Obama, are racially motivated. vile denunciation of Ben Carson tion — is kind of weird.” somehow inferior. Many leftists appar- Indeed, many liberals have insisted that andF his comments on the Oregon shoot- Let’s put aside Rivera’s statement that ently believe that conservative blacks conservatives criticize Obama because ing, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone fa- it’s weird to believe that God created the have forfeited any right to be insulted, he’s black, not because he is orchestrat- miliar with leftist vulgarity and double universe and mankind, though it is duly including on racial terms. ing the wholesale destruction of America. standards. noted, and focus on his casual assertion You need look no further than leftist In my view, there is no question that Not only did GQ print the post, in that people aren’t being rude, crude or cartoon- ists depicting Condo- Rivera sincerely believes that many which Magary wrote “f--- him,” but also demeaning toward leezza Rice as a parrot conservatives, by virtue of their conser- it titled the piece “F--- Ben Carson.” So Carson because he on President George vatism, are racist, both toward blacks much for civility, decency, tolerance, in- is black. David W. Bush’s arm and, and toward Hispanics. But his sincerity tellectual heft and — oh, yes — racial Ordinarily, I’d Limbaugh as one commentator doesn’t make his wrongheaded beliefs sensitivity. GQ tweeted a link to the col- accept that state- described, “as a true. umn, which means it wants people to read ment because I (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate semi-literate mam- it. believe that liberals my” with “big lips I HAVE LONG believed that if Re- who insult Carson mainly can’t stand him and bucked teeth” or liberal talk show publicans could make inroads into the IMAGINE THE outcry if a conser- because he’s conservative, not because hosts calling her “Aunt Jemima.” But if pernicious liberal lie that their princi- vative similarly described a black liberal he’s black. But seeing as they’ve estab- you want to look further, you may recall pled opposition to Democratic statism is politician in a prominent publication. Lib- lished the standard, let’s hold them to it. Joe Biden’s reference to Barack Obama based on race, the entire political land- erals would call for the heads of everyone as “clean,” “bright” and “articulate.” scape would change overnight. That is involved — writer, editor, publisher and IT PARTICULARLY galls them I am not a Geraldo Rivera hater and why many liberals who know better will the publication itself — and few conser- when minorities reject liberalism. It’s even like some things about him, but I keep fanning these flames of hatred and vatives would defend such language. reasonable to infer there’s a bit of conde- was appalled at his comments. No, not continue slandering black conservatives, The context of the quote is not miti- scension at play here because to believe that he assumed liberals aren’t attack- especially those they deem a threat to gating. Magary also wrote: “You know, blacks must be liberal is to suggest that ing Carson because he’s black but his their hold on power. the only thing more alarming than Don- ald Trump leading the Republican presi- MEDIA BIAS: October 12, 2015 dential field is the fact that Ben Carson is the guy right behind him. ... The Good Doctor made it clear this week that he is not only willing to replicate Trump’s signature brand of hot-garbage-spewing, but Hollywood can’t handle the truth he’ll say even DUMBER s---.” here are many things that real continue to maintain that they got it not a typewriter in the early 1970s, and Liberals are apoplectic over Carson’s people do to become the sub- right. Given their dogged resistance to whoever wrote them made basic mis- comments on the shooting not because ject of sympathetic movies. all contrary evidence and their attach- takes, like referring to an officer who he said anything wrong but because he MakeT a flawless emergency landing in ment to their pet theory, a better title for had already retired. CBS had no choice doesn’t toe the liberal line on gun control. the Hudson River with a disabled pas- the movie would have been Truthers. but to summarily fire Mapes and ease More than that, it’s that he is black and senger jet full of passengers. Survive a John Hinderaker and Scott Johnson, Rather out of one of the most prized rejects liberal dogma. Even worse, he’s devastating storm atop Mount Everest. writers at the Power Line blog that did seats in journalism. This wouldn’t seem running for president on a platform that Become the most lethal sniper in the so much to unravel the story at the time, to be natural material for spinning a tale expressly condemns that dogma and of- history of the U.S. military. recall how the report was deconstructed of reportorial glory, but the revisionist fers a better way. Worst of all, his cam- Before the advent of the movie Truth, in a piece for the Weekly Standard. machinery of the left has done more paign is resonating, and this just can’t be no one would have thought broadcast- The independent investigation com- with less. happening. ing a shoddy and immediately discred- missioned by CBS concluded Last week, the New York Times host- The most troublesome aspect of this ited report that ruined the careers of the that there was no reason for ed a TimesTalks with the actors and phony flap is the left’s delusional double journalists involved and gave their sto- the lionized journalists that was like a standard on race. Liberals can slander a ried network a black eye would make Rich dispatch from another planet. In their black person with impunity — because the list. telling, the implosion of the National leftist culture says liberals are incapable Truth is All the President’s Men for Lowry Guard report is story of corporate cow- of racism — and no evidence, not even reporters who botched their story about (c) 2015, King Features Syndicate ardice (Viacom, the owner of CBS, a smoking gun, can overcome this pre- the president. couldn’t take the heat) and of politics sumption. Bush to need to rely on a political favor triumphing over the facts — never But conservatives are presumed rac- IN THEIR perversely titled film, to get into the Guard, since it needed mind the actual facts. Dan Rather ac- ist and have the burden of proving oth- Robert Redford plays Dan Rather and pilots. And the purported documents tually says that the focus on the docu- erwise, even if they don’t say anything Cate Blanchett plays Mary Mapes, demonstrating Bush was AWOL were a ments in the report being a forgery is a at all, much less something that could be the erstwhile CBS News anchor and disaster. distraction. distorted into a comment unfavorable to producer who collaborated on a spec- In a better world, the bloggers who minorities. tacularly flawed September 2004 story THE SOURCE of the documents, exposed the malfeasance of these seem- What’s maddening is that many liber- about George W. Bush’s National Guard Bill Burkett, repeatedly changed his ingly untouchable mandarins of the me- als actually believe this insanity, as I’ve service. Their report should be taught at story about how he had come into pos- dia would be the ones to get the feature- learned in various personal encounters. journalism schools for a long time to session of them. First, he said that they length film. Not only did they uncover Others know it’s not true but cynically come as an object lesson in how not to showed up in the mail; then, that he got the truth — to borrow a term — they use it for political purposes. attempt journalism. them from a man named George Conn; were plucky underdogs whose exer- In a television debate with Eric Bol- Rather and Mapes sought to prove finally, that an alleged woman named tions to prevail against a broadcasting ling, Geraldo Rivera made my point, that Bush got his spot in the National Lucy Ramirez hooked him up with a behemoth signaled the beginning of a saying: “I think that in Dr. Ben Carson’s Guard through political favoritism and “dark-skinned man” at the Houston new, more democratic era in the history case, the people are not reacting to him then went AWOL. They rushed to air Livestock and Rodeo Show (why not go of the country’s media. as a black man” but are reacting to “ideas with a story that was too good — i.e., all the way and say he found them on like the Garden of Eden is the literal place too potentially damaging to Bush — to the grassy knoll?). BUT THE victory wasn’t complete. that existed long, long ago (and) that there check. It fell apart under the slightest The characteristics of the documents What CBS couldn’t defend, the Holly- is no such thing as evolution. ... To run for scrutiny, although Rather and Mapes were consistent with Microsoft Word, wood left now seeks to rehabilitate. October 21, 2015 25 RACE: October 8, 2015 The Rachel Dolezal-ation of the Oregon killer ere’s the narrative: mass kill- he identified as mixed-race on a dat- ers are almost always white ing website and lived with his black men. The Daily Kos recently mother.” publishedH a piece with this headline: As to non-white mass kill- “How come we ers, Selwyn Duke, can’t tell the truth writing in Ameri- about the White Larry can Thinker, cited Mass Killer Prob- a Mother Jones lem?” It asks, Elder Magazine com- “Just what the (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate pilation of data fracking he-- is on mass shoot- the matter with all these mass-murder- ings from 1982 through, at the time of THIS BRINGS us back to Mercer black president of the United States, ing white people?” Certainly mass kill- Duke’s writing, September 16, 2013 — and his race — at least as defined by prompting celebrations across the coun- ers are almost always men. But they’re after the Washington Navy Yard mur- some major media outlets. try.” not almost always white men. Overrep- ders. Duke wrote: Now President Barack Obama, of Things got a bit more complicated resented? Perhaps. But almost always “Of the last 20 mass killings of that course, is regularly described as Amer- when George Zimmerman, the Flori- white? No. period, nine were perpetrated by non- ica’s first black president or America’s da neighborhood watchman, shot and whites. first “African-American” president. His killed black teenager Trayvon Martin. CHRIS HARPER Mercer walked “That would be 45 percent, which father was a black man from Africa, his At first, media outlets called Zimmer- into Oregon’s Umpqua Community exceeds non-whites’ 37 percent share mother a white woman from Kansas. man “white.” The Associated Press College and killed nine people, wound- of the population. Still, Obama is rarely referred to in the wrote: “Martin was black, and Zimmer- ing nine more. On a dating site, Mer- “Of the last 30 mass killings, 11 media as multi-racial or biracial. The man was white.” cer, whose father is white and mother were committed by non-whites — right day after his 2008 election, for exam- But then, quite inconveniently, media is black, referred to himself as “mixed at the 37 percent mark. ple, the Associated Press described the outlets discovered that while Zimmer- race.” “And what if we go all the way back coast-to-coast jubilation after “TV news man’s father is white, his mother was The Los Angeles Times implied that to 1982? We then have 66 mass kill- announced the Illinois senator had been born in Peru and raised in Mexico. So Mercer was white. The Times, in a sub- ings in which the races of the perpetra- elected the first black president.” CNN and other media outlets decided headline, said he had “white supremacy tors were known, and 22 of them, or CBS News, in an article headlined on “white Hispanic.” leanings.” The original article said: “A one-third, were at the hands of non- “’Yes We Did’: Black Americans Re- American teen tennis star Madison federal law enforcement source famil- whites. Note here that America’s de- joice,” wrote: “People danced in the Keyes, with one black and one white iar with the investigation said, though, mographics have been changing, with streets, wept, lifted their voices in prayer parent, says, “I don’t really identify my- Hollywood can’t handle the truth that authorities had obtained some of non-whites comprising only about 20 and brought traffic to a standstill. From self as white or African-American.” But Harper-Mercer’s writings, as well as percent of the population in 1982; thus, the nation’s capital to Los Angeles, that did not stop Serena Williams, how- a note he left behind, suggesting that if we consider an approximate average Americans celebrated Barack Obama’s ever, from ignoring her preference. “It’s he supported white-supremacist causes non-white population of 28.5 percent victory and marveled that they lived to good to see another American, another and opposed organized religion.” The during the 31-year period in question, see the day that a black man was elected African-American, in the semifinals Times later changed the solitary law it appears that, again, mass murderers president.” playing so well,” said Williams. enforcement source to “two” sources, are slightly disproportionately non- The BBC said: “Democratic Senator Similarly, golf star Tiger Woods, but added a line stating, “However, white.” Barack Obama has been elected the first whose ethnicity includes Caucasian, black, American Indian and Asian, calls himself “Cablinasian.” Yet when he won his first master, the media instantly dubbed him the first “African-Ameri- can” to win that coveted tournament. It all gets so complicated. But back to the Oregon killer. Again, after the Oregon shooting, most media outlets — if they referred to his race at all — described him as “mixed,” as Mercer indicated on the aforementioned dating site. But if Obama, with one black parent and one white parent is “black” or “African- American,” why isn’t Mercer? The media are often accused — by the eternally offended crowd — of intentionally “undermining the image of blacks.” In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The media lean over backwards to avoid any hint of anti- black sentiment. In the case of Mercer, a man with one black parent and one white parent, the narrative of mass- killers-are-almost-always-white caused the media great difficulty. But they tried their best.

AFTER ALL, Rachel Dolezal, the white former NAACP chapter head who pretended to be black, says we’re whatever race we think we are. 26 Conservative Chronicle DISORDERS: October 8, 2015 Willful blindness: Not bravery but illness “Amazing grace, how sweet the There are numerous troubling aspects sound, that saved a wretch like me. / I of this story. First, it is unfathomable once was lost, but now am found; was that someone who is a trained profes- blind, but now I see.” sional would agree to deliberately blind Last week, the New York Post ran a patient — even with the patient’s con- a feature story titled “I poured drain sent. From the standpoint of the law, one cleaner in my eyes to blind myself.” In cannot typically consent to a violent tort this disturbing story, a young woman or a crime; the perpetrator is neverthe- named Jewel Shuping describes her less liable. How is this not a breach struggle with what of professional med- has come to be ical ethics? called “body in- Laura And yet, BIID 150 students at Hillsboro High School or a physician to amputate completely tegrity identity Hollis sounds remarkably in Missouri staged a walkout when a healthy limbs, and asking to have com- disorder” (BIID) similar to gender transgender boy who identifies as a girl (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate pletely healthy genitals mutilated or re- — a condition in dysphoria (or gen- insisted upon using the girls’ locker moved? If so, what is it? which able-bodied der identity disor- room. More recently, the city of Hous- In the video that accompanied the people are certain that they “should der) — a condition that has been much ton has been hotly debating Proposition New York Post article about Shuping, have” a disability. BIID is a fairly ob- in the news of late, with Bruce Jenner’s 1, which would (among other things) she is seen disclosing to a new friend scure disorder, but its sufferers demand revelation that he felt he “should have allow men who identify as women — the self-inflicted circumstances of her extreme remedies. In some notable cas- been born a woman.” His public tran- whether they have had gender reassign- blindness. She asks, concerned, whether es, people have insisted that they should sition to “Caitlyn Jenner” has been fol- ment surgery or not — to use women’s this will affect their friendship. be amputees, even going so far as at- lowed by account after account of people bathroom facilities. The ordinance char- Of course, it shouldn’t. And her tempting to amputate their own limbs, in the U.S. who insist that they were “as- acterizes as impermissible discrimina- friend assures her of his constancy. But or finding surgeons who will amputate signed the wrong gender” at birth. Many tion any efforts to prevent such use, with he goes further than that; he praises her them. of these individuals have undertaken stiff fines and penalties. Opponents fear for her “bravery.” That is the popular efforts just as serious and permanent as for the safety and security of women in word these days. Caitlyn Jenner is fre- BY HER OWN account, Shuping Jewel Shuping’s to make their physical public bathrooms where men can enter. quently praised as “brave.” Why is it became obsessed as a child with the bodies conform to what they say is their Advocates insist that a man who identi- now popular to characterize someone notion that she should have been born internal perception of themselves. fies as a woman is not a man. who suffers from gender dysphoria blind. She pretended to be blind for Even those who do not undertake Transgender activists insist that this “brave,” and considered compassionate years (called “blind-simming”), but surgical modification of their bodies are is just another instance of advancing to encourage them in their perception — this was inadequate. According to the now demanding that people treat them civil rights and ending discrimination. It a perception which may be just as much story, in 2006, Shuping found a “sym- as the sex and gender with which they is societal compassion. a distortion of reality or a product of a pathetic psychologist” who counseled identify, and not the sex that they physi- The Jewel Shuping case calls such a psychological condition as Jewel Shup- her for several weeks before agreeing cally manifest. conclusion into question. ing’s insistence that she should have to Shuping’s request to place drops of How is gender dysphoria different been born blind? lye drain cleaner in both Shuping’s eyes THE PUBLIC policy — and pub- from body identity integrity disorder? There is a message in Jewel Shup- to destroy her eyesight. Shuping is now lic safety — implications of some of Is there a difference between asking a ing’s story. In her quest to make true blind. these demands are serious. Last month, psychologist to drip lye in your eyes, that which is not true, she is willing to destroy an otherwise perfectly function- ing human sense. Through misguided notions of “compassion,” the people around her help her do it and praise her for it. This is not bravery; it is illness. And it is not compassionate to indulge it; it is cruelty. On a widespread societal scale, it is insanity, because it sets as socially desirable policy the denial of truth, the denial of observable reality and even the denial of medical science. What is brave is to admit that one is suffering from such an illness. Those af- flicted with these debilitating disorders deserve our understanding, our support and our help. They also deserve the very best treatment medical science can provide. There are, unquestionably, scien- tific reasons why these people feel the way they do. Instead of feigning compassion by playing along, we owe it to them as family members, friends and colleagues to help them get to the root of the problem, whatever that may be.

A SOCIETY that refuses to ac- knowledge truths because they are uncomfortable or painful to some of its members is one that is willfully blind. Like Jewel Shuping, once that decision is made, there is no going back. October 21, 2015 27 CRIME: October 9, 2015 Unlock’em up? Release of ‘nonviolent’ inmates he Justice Department has an- public safety. Indeed, more than half of nonviolent drug offenses. This is highly for a violent crime and plea-bargained nounced that it will begin re- federal inmates are nonviolent drug of- misleading. Of the 2.2 million inmates in to a lesser offense. Nor do we have good leasing 6,000 “nonviolent” in- fenders.” Sen. Rand Paul has called mass America, only about 200,000 are federal data on how many were previously con- matesT from federal prisons starting at the incarceration “the new Jim Crow.” And prisoners. victed of a violent crime. A 2004 Bureau end of this month. Welcome to the era of Carly Fiorina suggested during the last About half of federal inmates are sen- of Justice Statistics study found that 95 de-incarceration. At a conference named debate, “We have the highest incarcera- tenced for drug crimes, but this shouldn’t percent of those who served time in for former New York Mayor David Din- tion rates in the world. Two-thirds of the shock anyone. Nearly all state prisons for nonviolent crimes had kins (who presided over the city at a time people in our pris- violent crimes are a preceding criminal history (typically of runaway crime), Hillary Clinton de- ons are there for Mona state matters. It’s 9.3 arrests and 4.1 convictions) and 31 cried the number of Americans behind nonviolent offens- a federal crime to percent had a history of arrests for vio- bars and declared, “It’s time to change es, mostly drug- Charen transport a kidnap lent crime. our approach. It’s time to end the era of related. It is clearly (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate victim across state Among state prisoners, 54 percent mass incarceration.” not working.” lines, to attempt to are there for violent offenses. Perhaps Not exactly. The U.S. does have the assassinate a federal official and so forth. the 46 percent who are incarcerated for IN THIS, she is joined by Bernie highest incarceration rate in the world But robberies, rapes, assaults and murder nonviolent crimes should be punished Sanders and other Democrats, and also (that is, among nations that list these data are mostly state matters. Among state in- some other way. But to design good pol- by Charles Koch, who wrote recently that honestly), but the assertion that most mates, only 1 in 6 is a drug offender. icy on that, we’d have to grapple with a “Overcriminalization has led to the mass of the people incarcerated are there for number of issues. What do you do with incarceration of those ensnared by our nonviolent crimes is false. Advocates AMONG THE 50 percent of “non- offenders who are placed on probation criminal justice system, even though such for de-incarceration often cite the num- violent” federal drug offenders, it’s dif- or parole but continue to offend? What imprisonment does not always enhance ber of federal prisoners who committed ficult to know how many were arrested about the “crime in the streets versus crime in the suites” problem? Should we MEDIA BIAS: October 13, 2015 sentence embezzlers, child porn dealers and Medicaid cheats to community service but keep armed robbers behind bars? How will that affect the perception that incarceration is the “new Jim They really hate Ben Carson Crow?” he invective against Dr. Ben Oregon who were just killed by a mass many European Jews had weapons. The Many on both sides of the political Carson coming from the left is murderer?” hallowed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising began spectrum are eager to leap aboard the extraordinary, even for the left. New York Daily News headline: “2016 with the Jews in the Ghetto possessing a “de-incarceration” bandwagon. It’s a NowT that Carson, one of the pre-eminent contender Ben Carson defends remarks total of 10 handguns. Imagine if they had way to show sympathy with African- brain surgeons in America, has become criticizing victims of Oregon shooting.” a thousand. Americans and (to a much lesser de- a viable candidate for president, the left It was a grotesque libel. In the Washington Post, David Kopel gree) Hispanics, who are disproportion- has labelled him everything awful it can But even that libel might have even of the Cato Institute, who teaches Ad- ately represented among inmates. come up with. One left-wing columnist, outdone by the reaction to Carson’s com- vanced Constitutional Law at the Univer- But the primary victims of crime are Charles Blow of the New York Times, ments about the Holocaust and guns: sity Denver Sturm College of Law, cited also African-Americans and Hispanics. even disparaged his intelligence. “The likelihood of Hitler being able to the diaries of Jews who died in the War- If “unlock ‘em up” becomes the new But there were two attacks made this accomplish his goals would have been saw Ghetto. They expressed unalloyed conventional wisdom, more innocent past week that should be beyond the pale greatly diminished if the people joy at being able to kill some of their people will suffer and more businesses even for the left. had been armed.” Nazi tormentors, and deep regret about will flee. not having been armed and been able to We’ve become complacent about THE FIRST was that Carson Dennis fight back sooner than they did. crime because the crime rate has de- “blamed the victims” in the Roseburg, But even if one believes that Car- clined drastically since 1990. Accord- Oregon, community college mass mur- Prager son and Kopel are wrong, how could ing to the FBI, violent crime increased der. (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate one characterize Carson’s comments as by nearly 83 percent between 1973 and How did that happen? “anti-Semitic” or “blaming the victims 1991 — a period of criminal justice le- On Fox News, Carson noted that “the THOSE COMMENTS were actually [the Jews]?” How could one label state- niency. From 1991 to 2001, when incar- poor families of those individuals had to labeled anti-Semitic. ments expressing the wish that the Jews ceration rates increased, violent crime be hurting so badly.” One of the hosts Now, while “greatly diminished” is of the Holocaust had been armed “anti- declined by 33.6 percent. The decline then made the following comment: “Dr. debatable, the general view strikes me Semitic?” Yet, among others, a contribut- has persisted. There are many theories Carson, if a gunman walks up and puts as simple common sense: Why wouldn’t ing editor to the Forward, a leading Jew- about the cause of the drop in crime a gun at you and says, ‘What religion it have been a good thing if many Jews ish newspaper, wrote that these remarks (abortion, removing lead from paint, are you?’ that is the ultimate test of your in 1930s Europe had had weapons? Of were “profoundly anti-Semitic, immoral the waning of the crack epidemic, polic- faith.” course it would not have prevented the and disgusting.” And Carson was at- ing strategies), and some or all of those To which Carson responded: “I’m Holocaust, but it might have saved some tacked by prominent Jews in Time and by factors may have played a part, but the glad you asked that question. Because lives; and just as important, it would have the Anti-Defamation League. “incapacitation” argument — criminals not only would I probably not cooper- enabled armed Jews to die fighting rather The left is in full-blown smear-Carson who are behind bars cannot be mugging ate with him, I would not just stand there than to die unarmed and with no ability to mode. He is, after all, the left’s worst people — seems awfully strong. and let him shoot me. I would say, ‘Hey, fight. If Jews in Europe had been asked, nightmare — a black Republican who guys, everybody attack him. He may “Would you like to be armed when the is brilliant, kind and widely admired, in- IT WOULD, of course, be a better shoot me, but he can’t get us all.’” Nazis come to round you up?” what do cluding by many blacks. world if fewer Americans were growing He was asked, in essence, what he Carson’s critics think the great majority It is a rule of left-wing life that black up in neighborhoods where fatherless- would do. Whether one agrees or dis- of European Jews would have answered? Republicans must have their names and ness, intergenerational government de- agrees with what he says he would do, it Indeed, what would the critics them- reputations destroyed. The left knows pendency and poor schools contribute to was hardly “blaming the victims.” selves answer? that if blacks do not vote overwhelm- high rates of crime. But it’s hard to see Yet, that is what the left accuses of No normal person thinks that armed ingly Democrat, Democrats cannot win a how releasing more criminals to prey him doing. Jews would have prevented the Holo- national election. upon those very neighborhoods is the Chris Matthews on MSNBC: “Why caust (nor did Carson make such a claim). answer. would someone running for president ... But no normal person should think that it SO, THE SMEARING of Dr. Ben lay the blame on those young people in would have not have been a good thing if Carson has just begun. 28 Conservative Chronicle MEDIA BIAS: October 14, 2015 Bullying Ben Carson, coddling Democrats e’ve been waiting for the the NRA’s position reminds me of ne- media attacks on Ben Car- gotiating with the Iranians or the com- son to begin. To this point munists,” she said. “The NRA tries he’dW been (relatively) untouched: He to keep gun owners — the ones who wasn’t viewed as a credible threat. But are members — really upset all the his numbers aren’t receding. They’re time so they can keep collecting their growing. So he’s now in the crosshairs. money, because they tell The “news” them they’re the networks have only thing that’s spent several days Brent going to stop the manufacturing Bozell black helicopters outrage over Car- from landing in On Oct. 10, President Obama spoke news. Our media distort the picture so (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate son, saying that if the front yard and to donors in Hollywood about the Re- only the Republicans are ideological he were in a mass- people’s guns be- publicans in the House and in the pres- and refuse to compromise, which com- shooting situation, he would want ing seized.” idential race that the “politics of fear ... pletely avoids Obama’s second-term to fight back. “I would not just stand can express itself in anti-immigration “executive action” trench warfare. there and let him shoot me.” JAMES TARANTO of the Wall rhetoric. It can express itself in hun- Street Journal quipped: “If the NRA is kering back on the need to take care AS USUAL, one of the media’s IT DIDN’T matter how many mil- like ‘the Iranians or the communists,’ of folks who are vulnerable ... It can most obvious demonstrations of favor- lions of sensible Americans — espe- does she recommend the same nego- express itself in sort of cheap jingoism itism is defining what is a damaging, cially males — would have that same tiating strategy the administration has and militarism and nationalism that’s disgraceful gaffe. Liberals — even Joe thought. Experts insist distracting the employed with them — i.e., make con- not grounded in our national security Biden! — just can’t seem to be guilty shooter by taking action, like throw- cession after concession, then declare interests. But it’s a dangerous path.” of one. ing things, can help save lives. Indeed, a diplomatic triumph?” This is apparently dime-a-dozen lib- shortly after 9/11 we were visiting Again, the network coverage: zero. eral arrogance from Obama. So it’s not with an airline security expert who stated, emphatically, that in a similar situation the impulse must be to attack LEFTIST TACTICS: October 14, 2015 the attacker, no matter how hopeless it might appear. Instead, the networks seized on how Carson was insulting shooting victims Now I’m ‘anti-American’ as being too passive — an aggressive- There’s a great new book out by Jack And it works. Recently, I was dubbed “anti-Ameri- ly biased take. Cashill called Scarlet Letters. I’ve been called every name in the can” by a columnist for the Des Moines On NBC’s Today, news anchor Reading it has taught me a lot. book by the worst of them. Register. Natalie Morales had the vapors: “It’s For many years I pondered the glar- When I opposed Barack Obama’s “Anti-American?” Really. Why? Be- beyond insensitive. It’s hard to hear ing contradiction of the left, which policies and questioned his credentials cause I support the Constitution of the that.” Co-host Willie Geist huffed, preaches “tolerance” and “diversity” to be president, it was because I was a United States? Because I want to pro- “But my goodness, who would ever whilst eviscerating those who disagree “racist.” tect and defend it as a land of the free? second-guess people in that situation?” with their ideas in the harshest language But when some little, no-name punk Because I want my kids to grow up with Meanwhile, the 70-something poli- imaginable. at GQ wrote a juvenile piece unworthy hope and the chance for preserving the ticians running on the Democrat side And that’s not to mention how they of even a Huffington Post blog, head- liberty and opportunity I knew as a kid? can apparently say all kinds of hyper- use whatever power they have to de- lined “F--- Ben Carson,” (without the None of those questions really mat- negative things and expect the “objec- stroy the lives of those with whom they dashes, mind you), because the good ter. tive” media to ignore them. After all, disagree. doctor stood up for the simple, com- Most of these name-callers don’t isn’t it just scientifically verifiable that mon-sense idea of encouraging self-de- know a thing about the people they at- conservatives are evil? IT ALL BECAME clear to me upon fense against mass murderers, he appar- tempt to tar and feather as evildoers, For example, at a surprise appear- reading Scarlett Letters. ently had no worries about being sinners and sociopaths. ance at a Latino PAC’s fundraiser on Cashill’s hypothesis is so simple, so labeled. It’s simply what they do. Oct. 6, Vice President Joe Biden un- persuasive and elegantly expressed, I They do it because it makes them corked on Donald Trump and the other found myself scratching my head and Joseph feel better. They are practicing their GOP hopefuls. Latinos were hanging wondering why I hadn’t ever consid- own false creed. If they had the power their heads, he said. “People walked in ered the matter before. So-called “pro- Farah to damn their imaginary enemies to hell, like literally down because of the beat- gressives” have, in effect, created a new (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate they wouldn’t hesitate for a minute. If ing, the beating Hispanics are taking neo-puritanical religion that empowers they had the courage to take our lives, at the hands of the Republican caucus them, even commands them, to do unto WHEN I wrote about the nature of I have little doubt many of them would. — I mean the Republican presidential others what they accuse others of doing radical Islam based on my personal ex- When they are empowered to positions race.” The American people, Biden to them. perience as a descendant of Christian of authority, they abuse it by punishing said, are “so, so, so much different They heap insults on them like “ho- Middle Easterners who fled the region those who don’t share their sacred val- than these guys who are appealing to mophobe,” “racist,” “fascist, “climate- because of persecution, oppression and ues. everything from homophobia to this change denier” and “Islamophobe,” to subjugation, not to mention my back- There’s one label they particularly notion of the ... Know-Nothing Party name but a few, in hopes of branding ground as a Middle East correspondent, love. It’s all encompassing. It’s good for of the late 1800s.” others with a new version of the old I was called an “Islamophobe,” thus tar- any occasion. It’s short, pithy and cov- Network TV coverage? Nothing. “Scarlet Letter” device. geting me for dozens of death threats. ers all the new sins. You’ve no doubt (The Know-Nothing Party only flour- It doesn’t matter if the slur is accu- Those throwing out the label had heard it — “hater.” ished in the 1840s and 1850s, but who rate, truthful, fair or sincere. Usually it little worry about being called “Christo- But, think about it. Who’s doing the expected Biden to get an A in History isn’t. It’s just their attempt to impose phobes.” They’d probably consider it a name-calling here? Who’s doing all the — or even pass?) their new moral code, to strike fear and compliment, and they had little concern “hating?” On the very same day, Hillary Clin- apprehension into the minds, souls and about there being any consequences. As Cashill notes in the introduction ton smeared the National Rifle Associ- psyches of their political and spiritual Would they ever run out of epithets? to Scarlet Letters: The spirit of Salem ation at an Iowa town hall. “You know, adversaries. Evidently not. lives on. October 21, 2015 29 FOREIGN POLICY: October 12, 2015 America the isolationist: An old mistake dmund Burke said it: “The only another wave of refugees seeking asy- thing necessary for the triumph lum. The price of ignoring the civil war of evil is for good men to do in Syria mounts every day, but Washing- nothing.”E He could have been summing ton continues to dawdle — just as it has up this administration’s foreign policy, done for years now. There is apparently assuming it has one. Burke had studied no limit to the suffering of others that this enough history, and made enough of it administration can stand. himself, to see that the American Revo- Remember how the America of the lution was a cause to support while the Clinton Era slept on even as civil war French Revolution wasn’t. Which made swept Eastern Europe? Remember the him not only a statesman-philosopher but name War- ren M. Christopher? a prophet. And his prophecies had a way Not that there is any reason of coming true, for you should. He they were based on Paul was Bill Clinton’s the best of guides: first secretary of experience. Greenberg state, though that (c) 2015, Tribune Media Services office might as BUT THE well have been va- American response to evil is too often the cant. He was the John Kerry of his day, last we try. Or as Winston Churchill once forever temporizing instead of acting. put it, “You can always count on Ameri- But who noticed? It was a time to cans to do the right thing after they’ve see no evil, hear no evil and do nothing fore we were a nation. See the French But it would be as dangerous by any other tried everything else.” Unfortunately, about it. A time much like today. Why and Indian War, which was just one front name as it fills the vacuum left by Ameri- this administration is still trying every- get involved, our isolationists want to in what the Europeans called the Seven ca’s withdrawal from that flammable part thing else, persuaded that somehow evil know, not realizing we are already in- Years’ War. This was one world long be- of the world. By now even this adminis- will never have to be confronted, that this volved whether we want to be or not. fore Wendell Willkie coined the phrase at tration has been forced to take some no- country can enjoy our splendid isolation, Evil doesn’t ask for permission before it another time when American isolation- tice of it, and even take some action to buffeted as we are by two oceans and far crosses an international border. Any more ism was at high tide. contain it, however little and late. away from events in the Middle East. than Ebola does. It’s an American tradition by now, Never mind that the anarchy in that It’s an old, old mistake of our isola- THE NAIVE notion that the present waiting till the last minute to discern a flammable part of the world keeps rip- tionists to believe we are safe here from and continuing horrors in Syria and be- danger. If then. “I sometimes wonder,” Now I’m ‘anti-American’ pling across Europe and soon enough dangers elsewhere, not realizing we have yond have nothing to do with us is belied American diplomat George F. Kennan will be on our doorstep in the form of still been involved in world wars even be- by every video out of the Islamic State. once told an audience that had gathered in a great lecture hall to imbibe his wisdom, “whether in this respect a democracy is SANCTUARY CITY: October 13, 2015 not uncomfortably similar to one of those prehistoric monsters with a body as long as this room and a brain the size of a pin: he lies there in his comfortable primeval Sanctuary City is a haven for felons mud and pays little attention to his envi- s he runs for re-election in GASCON MAY be to the left of the never prevented the sheriff from noti- ronment; he is slow to wrath — in fact, November, San Francisco Board of Supervisors on this issue. At fying ICE. Gascon stressed that any re- you practically have to whack his tail off District Attorney George Gas- least, I hope he is. Supervisor Mark Far- marks he made about the ordinance have to make him aware that his interests are conA faces no opposition. The cozy posi- rell has been working to fix the 2013 or- nothing to do with charges against Lo- being disturbed; but, once he grasps this, tion was unlikely, when you consider that dinance in the wake of the July 1 shooting pez-Sanchez, but the sheriff should de- he lays about him with such blind deter- Gascon arrived in the city as a pro-death of Kate Steinle on Pier 14. The ordinance mand a warrant (as opposed to a detainer mination that he not only destroys his penalty Republican from Arizona in 2009 appears to have played a role in that awful request) from ICE. To San Francisco’s adversary but largely wrecks his native after then-Mayor Gavin Newsom picked killing. The accused shooter, Juan Fran- top prosecutor, it’s “good public policy” habitat. You wonder whether it would not him to be chief of police. Today he’s the cisco Lopez-Sanchez, is an immigrant in to set up hurdles that make it harder to have been wiser for him to have taken a rare prosecutor who has sent a message to this country illegally who has seven deport career criminals who do not be- little more interest in what was going on career criminals in the country illegally: felony convictions and has long in the United States. at an earlier date and to have seen wheth- San Francisco will make the feds really er he could not have prevented some of work to deport them. Debra J. GASCON ALSO opposes minor re- these situations from arising. ...” forms to Proposition 47, the 2014 ballot In his always temperate, even de- IN 2011, after then-Ess Eff District Saunders measure approved by 60 percent of the tached, discourse on the shortcomings of Attorney Kamala Harris won the race to (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate electorate that downgraded many prop- American diplomacy, Mr. Kennan had be California’s attorney general, Gascon erty and drug crimes from felonies to diagnosed a continuing problem. And it was Newsom’s choice to replace her. By been deported five times. He was sent by misdemeanors. Some cops and prosecu- continues yet. The dinosaurs may no lon- then, Gascon no longer was a Republican. the feds to San Francisco on a decades- tors say the measure turned misdemean- ger be with us, but the delusions of iso- He no longer supports the death penalty. old marijuana charge. When the district or arrests into a “catch and release” ex- lationism linger. You can see them in the He does support San Francisco’s sanctu- attorney rightly dropped the charges — ercise that is driving up property crimes. White House’s every hesitant move — ary city policies — including the city’s the case was too moldy to win — Sher- An early champion of Prop 47, Gascon and equally hesitant delay. The isolation- 2013 Due Process for All ordinance, iff Ross Mirkarimi released the Mexican chastised his law enforcement crit- ist impulse is part of the American ethos which prohibits city law enforcement national rather than notify ICE. Lopez- ics for being “addicted to incarcerating by now, even though that doesn’t make it from honoring federal Immigration and Sanchez, who is now charged with mur- people.” He suggested law enforcement any less shortsighted. Customs Enforcement detainer requests der, has pleaded not guilty in the shooting look for “the underlying problems” that except for inmates who have been con- — although he has told the press that he lead someone to, say, steal a car. It’s a HOW LONG, oh, how long before victed of a violent felony in the past sev- found the gun that killed Steinle on the plus when a prosecutor talks about being this administration wakes up, if it ever en years. “I think it’s good public policy,” pier that day. smart about punishment. But who feels does? There’s no telling, but as long as it he told the San Francisco Chronicle’s Ever since Steinle’s death, Mayor Ed safer when a district attorney talks like a sleeps on, evil grows — and grows ever editorial board Friday. Lee has argued that Due Process for All social worker? closer. 30 Conservative Chronicle BERGDAHL TRIAL: October 14, 2015 Bergdahl show trial: Records shows a cover-up in the works fter a preliminary hearing, Thousands of infantry were pushed to witness testified that there were injuries “Wrongfulness.” Not at this charade Army officials are recom- their limits, spending 45 days in swel- suffered by U.S. forces during the al- hearing. The defense called captivity mending Sgt. Bowe Bergda- tering 100-degree plus days and cold leged search and recovery operations, I expert Terrence Russell and set him hl getA off without jail time or a punitive nights, combing remote areas and driv- will not consider this as evidence.” up by asking about “public efforts to discharge for walking off his Afghani- ing though villages, down roads and Some of his platoon-mates have been smear the reputations of soldiers who stan military base in 2009. He could into terrain they had not entered pre- all over television calling Bergdahl a are captured.” He answered that Berg- even get back pay and lifetime dis- viously. Major S. Silvino testified that deserter. They were not on the dahl is a hero for serving “his country ability payments. The recommendation IED blasts dou- witness list. Gregory with honor in captivity.” leaked out Sunday, infuriating some of bled, and his sol- Leatherman, who Bergdahl’s lawyer closed by say- Bergdahl’s former platoon-mates. In- diers faced higher Betsy served with Berg- ing that Bergdahl “is deeply grateful to stead of examining Bergdahl’s crimes, risk because they dahl and is no lon- President Obama for saving his life.” the hearing whitewashed them. were searching McCaughey ger in the military, unfamiliar ter- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate was brought in to WHAT ABOUT the lives of the WHY THE cover-up? To make ritory, and were testify that Berg- men and women in uniform who President Obama look good. Last year, weakened by fatigue and lack of water. dahl was mentally troubled. serve bravely? This hearing dishon- Obama was criticized for swapping a But one the Army’s top forensic ored them. Now it will be up to Gen- “dream team” of five top Taliban war- IT WAS COMPELLING testi- psychologists, Dr. Christopher Lange eral Robert Abrams, commander of the riors from Guantanamo for a deserter mony, but the fix was already in. The (who was not called to testify) ex- U.S. Army Forces, to clean up this dis- who had fallen into enemy hands. Re- hearing officer announced right after- amined Bergdahl and reported that in honorable mess. inventing Bergdahl as a hero makes ward that military officials had already 2009, Bergdahl “was able to appreciate that trade sound acceptable. Disgrace- agreed to exclude it: “To the extent that the nature and quality and wrongful- fully, that is what the Army is doing. Major Silvino or any other government ness of his conduct.” Defending the swap last year, administration official Susan Rice claimed IRAN: October 8, 2015 Bergdahl had served with “honor and distinction.” The hearing was scripted to make that fairy tale claim look true. Inside the 393-page transcript is evidence of a cover-up. There will be no peace Bergdahl didn’t tell his story at the hat didn’t last long. Remem- But it’s a different, simpler, black- ful: All the trouble in the world is the hearing. Instead the defense called Ma- ber how Iran’s president, and-white story the way Hassan Rou- fault of the Jews and/or Americans, jor General Kenneth Dahl, who had Hassan Rouhani, said his hani tells it: “If not for the U.S. mili- or just fill in the blank with your own been assigned to investigate Bergda- country’sT nuclear deal with the United tary invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, nomination for scapegoat du jour. hl’s disappearance and had interviewed States and our Western allies opened a and its unwarranted support for the in- Why the Jews? Well, isn’t that their him for one and a half days. Dahl spun “new chapter” in his country’s dealings humane actions of the Zionist regime traditional role in history — as scape- an implausible tale that Bergdahl never with the world? against the oppressed nation of Pal- goats? As history’s demagogues from intended to desert. Instead he planned It was just a few months back — in estine, today the terrorists would not Haman to Hitler have well understood. to leave the base for one night, run to July — when diplomats in Washing- have an excuse for the justification of And why the Americans? What have a neighboring military base and tell ton and Tehran were all smiles as they their crimes.” we done to merit such hatred? Noth- an unnamed general there about mis- raised their glasses to toast this brave Oh, what a beautiful world it would ing. There was even a time (during the management in his platoon. Huh? The new world of peace and harmony. And be if that “Zionist regime,” aka Israel, shah’s reign) when Washington and nearest base was 30 kilometers (nearly our own president assured us he’d se- were wiped off the map — just as Iran’s Tehran were allies. But hatred needs 20 miles) away over rugged terrain. cured Peace in Our Time. leaders have regularly prom- no reason, only an excuse. It is its own Running there in the dark night — near ised it would be. For bad reason for being. And in our case, the physically impossible. It was a crazy BUT WHEN Iran’s president turned assumption of innocence until proven alibi, but no one questioned it. up at the UN’s General Assembly he Paul guilty was long ago replaced by the as- Dahl painted Bergdahl as an ideal- inserted a little hate speech into his sumption that Americans, and the West istic, patriotic, naive man — saying formal address — just to make it clear Greenberg in general, are guilty until proven in- he resembled John Galt in Ayn Rand’s that the mullahs in Tehran still call the (c) 2015, Tribune Media Services nocent. novel Atlas Shrugged. Shockingly, no shots when it comes to that country’s one presented evidence to dispute this foreign policy. The insertions took aim measure, Iran’s president threw in this W.H. AUDEN, the English poet, phony portrait, though there is plenty: at the same old Satans — the United demand: “It is urgent for the United understood how this game works. To the email Bergdahl had sent his parents States and Israel — so you can turn the States government, instead of explain- quote his poem “There Will Be No saying “the horror that is America is page on that “new chapter” in Iran’s ing the truth of the region and throwing Peace:” disgusting” or his comments to his pla- history. The new chapter turns out to be about baseless accusations and pursu- What have you done to them? toon-mates disparaging the war effort. the same as the old chapter, and as reg- ing other dangerous policies in defense Nothing? Nothing is not an answer: The biggest ruse: the flat denial that ularly punctuated by diatribes against of its regional allies, who only cultivate You will come to believe — how any of Bergdahl’s fellow soldiers lost these “newcomers” to the Middle East the seeds of division and extremism — can you help it? — their lives looking for him. The issue who are causing all the trouble. this must be brought to an end and its That you did, you did do something; came up twice. Dahl was asked wheth- Newcomers? Who knew the Jews actions must be made compatible with You will find yourself wishing you er he investigated that question. Dahl were newcomers to the Middle East? the realities of the region.” could make them laugh, said he had not, because he was told not Their connection to that part of the You will long for their friendship. to. Yet moments later, he stated “there world, and with the Iranians, then IT WAS ALL enough to bring back There will be no peace. were no soldiers killed who were de- known as Persians, goes back at least the bad old days at the height of the Fight back, then, with such courage liberately looking and searching for ... to the Book of Esther — and as for Cold War when no article in Pravda as you have Sergeant Bergdahl. I did not find any the Americans, this country only filled was complete without a little standard And every unchivalrous dodge you evidence of that.” Of course he didn’t. the vacuum left when the British and boilerplate thrown in about Western know of, He was ordered not to look. French were chased out. We were even imperialism and those conniving capi- Clear on your conscience on this: Bergdahl’s three commanders all welcomed when the Soviets threatened talists plotting against a peace-loving Their cause, if they had one, is noth- testified that as soon as he went miss- to seize Iran’s oilfields in the aftermath Soviet Union. The party line in this ing to them now; ing, a massive search was launched. of the Second World War. case is just as simplistic, and as hate- They hate for hate’s sake. October 21, 2015 31 RUSSIA: October 9, 2015 Russia’s threat — seeking superpower status hen Barack Obama ac- the Caspian Sea a thousand miles away, cepted the Democratic again targeting not the Islamic State but presidential nomination the Free Syrian Army. Turkey, a NATO in 2008,W he predicted that the occasion member, has also claimed that Russian would be remembered as “the moment planes have violated Turkish when we ended a airspace. war and secured It would be bad our nation and re- Linda enough if Russia’s stored our image intervention in Syr- as the last, best Chavez ia accomplished hope on earth.” (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate nothing more Some seven years than propping up later, America is weaker, and the world the murderous regime of Assad, which is a far more dangerous place. has killed more than a quarter-million Syrians and led to the exodus of three PRESIDENT OBAMA did not end million refugees. But Russia’s role is the war in Iraq. His precipitous with- far more insidious. Russia’s move also drawal of American troops allowed the enhances Iran’s power in the region and Islamic State group to take control of makes it far likelier that we will see fu- major cities and Iran to become the pup- ture confrontations between Iran and its pet master in Iraq. His decision to an- Sunni neighbors. nounce when the U.S. would withdraw troops from Afghanistan emboldened LEST WE FORGET, Russia re- the Taliban, as witnessed most recent- mains a powerful nuclear state. Accord- ly in the assault on Kunduz. But most ing to the Arms Control Association, confrontation precisely because such craft carrier USS Essex to take whatever importantly, the president’s feckless Russia currently has 1,582 nuclear war- confrontation could have escalated measures deemed necessary to stop the policies have set the stage for Russia’s heads deployed on 515 intercontinental into a nuclear war. But avoiding di- submarine. The ships turned back at the ascendancy and its move to become a ballistic missiles, submarines and stra- rect confrontation did not mean that last minute, and the Soviets ultimately There will be no peace major player in the Middle East. tegic bombers. In addition, Russia’s nu- the U.S. backed down against obvious withdrew their missiles when the U.S. Thanks to the administration’s dith- clear arsenal includes 4,500 stockpiled threats. When the Soviets secretly put pledged not to invade Cuba. ering on Syria, Russia now has 30 war- warheads and another 3,200 that are nuclear missiles in Cuba in 1962, Presi- There are lessons to be learned from planes in the air that are launching at- intact but no longer stockpiled, await- dent John F. Kennedy didn’t ignore the the Cuban missile crisis. Syria is not tacks on anti-Bashar Assad rebels, and ing dismantlement under the Strategic provocation but deployed U.S. ships to in our own backyard, as Cuba is, but soon there may be troops on the ground Arms Reduction Treaty with the United blockade the island. During the 13-day America’s failure to counter Russian — “volunteers” like the ones Russia States. Any guess whom these weapons crisis, three Soviet ships, including a interference in the Middle East none- has employed against Ukraine. Mean- are aimed at? submarine, approached the American theless poses a strategic threat. Unless while, Russia is firing its most sophis- Throughout the Cold War, the U.S. blockade line, and President Kennedy this threat is met by U.S. resolve and ticated cruise missiles from warships in and the Soviet Union avoided direct gave permission to the American air- strength, a greater war is inevitable. The Middle East is a tinderbox, with explosions occurring throughout the region that could ignite a major con- flagration. America’s major ally in the region, Israel, faces an existential threat if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, which the Obama administration’s deal makes more likely than not. A Russian-backed Iran also poses threats to Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf States. The rise of Russia also poses a direct threat to Europe. What is to stop Russia from moving against some of its former satellites, especially the Baltic States? The United States has employed economic sanctions but has done far too little to help Ukraine fight Russian-backed rebels, providing no offensive weapons or ammunition against Russian tanks and other sophisticated Russian weapons. If we are unwilling to arm those who are fighting Russian expansion, we will see Russia gobble up more territory on its path to regain superpower status.

CONTRARY TO his promises, President Obama has greatly damaged the standing of the United States in the world. It may well be too late to reverse this trend in his remaining year in office. The tragedy is he shows no interest in even trying. RUSH! •NEWSPAPER• •DATED MATERIAL•

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