Posse Incitatus

Ferguson Redux

We've seen this movie before: A black man dies after an encounter with police; scores of activists and journalists jump to conclusions before the facts have been sorted out; and a raging underclass, spurred on and augmented by outside agitators, riots and loots with abandon while police are ineffective in quelling the lawlessness.

Baltimore went up in flames Monday night, eight days after 25-year-old Freddie Gray died from a spinal cord injury one week after Baltimore Police arrested him on April 12. Sadly for Mr. Gray's family, the unrest occurred on the day of his funeral.

Not surprisingly, the same rabble-rousers and agitators who stirred up Ferguson's underclass were hard at work riling up the downtrodden of Baltimore, in part by using social media. Indeed, many of the rioters and looters came from outside the Baltimore metro area.

As with the Ferguson, Mo., riots in August and November, President Obama's response was lame and feckless. It's as if he secretly enjoys the protests, and is going through the motions with the obligatory denunciation and disapproval (really just a tiny slap on the wrist, peppered with the usual bromides about how we need to "invest" in early education and reform our justice system, as well as lament about the loss of manufacturing jobs).

Baltimore's mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, is a poster girl for the Peter Principle. She comes across well on camera, but is obviously in over her head and has mismanaged this crisis almost as badly as former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin botched Hurricane Katrina.

The behavior of so many young people is indicative of a breakdown in the black family structure, an abysmal educational system, and the cancerous effects of the welfare state. Blacks keep voting for Democrats (and have been doing so for decades), and for many of them, their quality of life never improves. Yet they fail to put 2 and 2 together.

Baltimore has been led by Democrats for decades. Its mayor and police chief are black Democrats. Over 40 percent of its officers are black. Maryland has had mostly Democrat governors and a solidly Democrat legislature. So it will be tough for the left to pin this on Republicans, whites and conservatives.

Call it an absence of critical thinking and reasoning ability. Call it the manifestation of the liberal-left welfare state. Call it an utter, complete failure of leadership. But by any name, Baltimore's meltdown is simply another stark reminder of how liberal/progressive policies and leadership lead to catastrophe. How many thousands of times does this lesson need to be replayed until it sinks in?

I would be remiss if I didn't scold the flock of Republican presidential candidates for their cowardice (or perhaps absentmindedness) in not coming out with a statement about these shameful developments. Show some courage, folks. Tell us your views and how your policies and philosophies would help improve the situation.

What, are you afraid blacks won't vote for you if you criticize liberal black leadership? That's like someone who just climbed out of the swimming pool complaining because it's raining and he doesn't have an umbrella.

We could all use a drastic reality check.

 

The Iranian Schoolmasters

One of the defining features of modern American liberalism is its inherent dishonesty.  Despite conservative despair over liberal electoral successes, the fact is that the American left rarely says what it thinks, particularly at election time.

Lies are their bread and butter.  The current most obvious example of this is Hillary! Clinton's deceptive campaign for president.  Like all liberals, she supports 'the little guy' and she is now bringing up the evils of the 1 percent and unequal income distribution.  Of course she has no intention of leaving the 1 percent, but she'd like to you to join her in hating everyone who has more money than she does.

American conservatives, by contrast, try to mean what they say and honor their promises.  This is because their base demands it.  The American right will tolerate a certain amount of subterfuge, but generally they adhere to the old saw that honesty is the best policy.

This dichotomy tends to give Democrats the upper hand when they negotiate with Republicans.  Because they have no sense of honor or shame, Democrats can break an agreement with no ill effects and will happily lie about doing so.  The only animating principle of the left is:  "The ends justify the means."  The fact that one of their more radical allies uses the name "By Any Means Necessary" speaks volumes as to their true moral character.

In practice, Republicans are reduced to being Charlie Brown to the Democrats' Lucy:  Forever trying to kick the football and always watching it get pulled away.

The current confirmation deal for Attorney General represents perhaps a rare moment where the deal got done:  The GOP got a bill out of the Senate and the president got to keep his Justice Dept. firewall in place.

Of course the president could still veto the deal, which would pretty much be par for the course.  Once again he could congratulate himself on his cleverness.

But what happens when the other side lies as well?  What if the playing field is even?

Iran is now showing the Obama Administration just how awkward that can be.

The mullahs hate America and always have.  The Iranian people don't, but they aren't actually in charge of the country.  What is more, the mullahs probably have even more contempt for Barack Obama than any American leader - including Jimmy Carter.  For one thing, Obama is (wait for it) black, and Iranians are famously Aryan (just ask them).

For another, Obama has now made it the stated goal of the United States to defend homosexuality around the globe.  That's actually part of our national security strategy.  Go ahead, look it up.

It is a rare thing for another country to openly declare its allegiance to moral degeneration, but as far as Iran (and the Muslim worlds cares), that's exactly what we've done.

All of this makes it blindingly easy (and highly enjoyable) for the Iranians to torment us at every turn.  The fact is, Obama needs a deal with Iran - any deal.  He has too much invested in this.

Iran, by contrast, needs nothing.  They are willing to offer a deal, but want all of their benefits up front so that they can immediately renege.

Iran's leaders have no intention of being a strategic partner and quite openly say so.

The spectacle of the White House press secretary explaining that chants of "Death to America" by Iran's Supreme Leader are only for "domestic consumption" would be hilarious if the stakes weren't so high.

But this is what happens with the amateur liars run into the professionals.

It is too much to hope that the administration might gain a glimmer of how it feels to be the GOP - trying to find common ground only to get tricked and abused for the effort.

Still, for all the hand-wringing about Congress having approval over the final document, we should take comfort in the fact that it will be immediately be violated by Iran, no matter what is in it.

Will Higher Ed Go the Way of Blockbuster?

Sounds preposterous, doesn't it? But maybe not.

After Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video and other streaming video providers caught on (in conjunction with rapid advances in computer and Internet technology), Blockbuster's business model of renting out DVDs quickly went the way of the buggy whip following the invention and mass production of automobiles.

I sense that more and more young people are becoming disillusioned and angry about higher education. Specifically, because it costs too much yet tuitions continue spiraling upward; it often offers little or no reward following years of hard work and huge expenditures; and it frequently leaves students hamstrung with overwhelming debt. Increasingly, young people are open to viable alternatives.

Here's an analogy: In the late 1990s, when the economy was roaring, elaborate shopping malls sprung up everywhere, and extensive renovations were done to many existing malls. It seemed the sky was the limit in our world of consumerism. But after amazon.com, eBay and other Internet retailers made serious inroads, mall vacancies and mall closures became the norm.

Indeed, mall vacancy rates are now the highest in 20 years, according to this TIME story. Moreover, the makeup of malls is a far cry from 20 or 30 years ago, as non-retail and non-restaurant tenants such as schools, medical clinics, call centers, government offices and even churches proliferate.

Similarly, the building boom at universities -- new research centers, arenas, dormitories, classrooms and administrative facilities, for example -- coincided with the mall expansions. Too, universities have gone overboard on hiring marketing  and p.r. people, administrators, consultants, lobbyists and fundraisers. Repeatedly, university leaders cavalierly passed on their bloated expenses to students in the form of higher tuition. It appears academia has been guilty of gross overreach.

Word is spreading fast that vocational/technical schools offer useful training for positions in demand -- e.g., welder, dental hygienist or nurse's assistant -- at a fraction of the cost of a university education and in a much shorter time frame. More and more students are recognizing what a good deal online courses are, and appreciating the value of community colleges. And it's become a running joke about how so many 20-somethings hold useless bachelor's degrees, $9-an-hour jobs in coffee shops or retail stores, and a boatload of student loan debt.

The longstanding arrogance and high-and-mighty attitude of universities is likely headed for a terrible crash. (See Proverbs, 16:18). It can't come soon enough.

And Then There Were 19...

Nineteen candidates for the Republican presidential nomination? Or is it 20? Or 21? Tell the truth, I'm not even sure. Maybe the GOP isn't sure, either.

At any rate, it is astounding what an enormous field of candidates is vying to earn the nomination, unlike on the Democrat side, where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is a presumed shoo-in.

I see both positives and negatives from this cacophony of candidates. There is certainly the "circular firing squad" phenomenon that has plagued the GOP so often in the past. Different candidates will be slamming each other with vigor, providing ample fodder for Democrat campaign strategists to use come the general election.

And it goes without saying that the corrupt media, always and forever in the tank for Democrats, will play up GOP infighting and ensure that insults directed at key Republican candidates will get shown over and over, ad nauseam.

However, I also suspect some good can come from this. For starters, there will be multiple -- and I mean MULTIPLE -- mouths lambasting the corrupt, lying and grossly overrated St. Hillary for her multitude of failings.

Moreover, the debates and interactions with the public out on the hustings will bring to light the truly important issues of the day: Islamic extremists and the threat they pose; wrongheaded economic and regulatory policies that ensure most jobs created are part-time, low wage positions; a puffed up stock market artificially inflated by the Fed and likely to crash at any time; a middle class that is hopelessly squeezed and sinking further into oblivion with each passing year; obscene deficits that are robbing our children and grandchildren of any hope for a secure future; and disgraceful treatment of veterans who gave their heart and soul, sacrificed and bled on our behalf, but must contend with a disspiriting, inept and dysfunctional VA system.

I wish I were a script writer for Saturday Night Live, because I'd have a field day making fun of the Republican herd. Imagine the fun of putting about 75 or 100 people up on stage (only a slight exaggeration), with caricatures for pols such as Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal, Donald Trump, Rand Paul and Rick Perry.

Think about the possibilities: Roving moderators armed with tasers to shut up those who won't quit talking and give someone else a chance. Throw in a few spoofs such as a mocking portrayal of Perry having a mental blank, Christie getting feisty and sounding/looking like a mobster, and the network provided graphics showing 1, 2, 3 or 4 "Pinocchios" to assess the severity of a lie (a la the Washington Post). You could have a lot of fun with this circus.

In all seriousness, though, let's hope the American public (or at least those registered to vote) will appreciate the fact that the GOP, as imperfect as it is, at least has robust debate and differing positions within its ranks. It won't simply coronate one candidate and shove him or her down America's throat.

As NRA president Wayne LaPierre remarked recently, "Eight years of one demographically symbolic president is enough." The last thing we need is another four or eight years of the first female president simply because it pleases the identity politics contingent.

I believe the Republicans have learned their lesson from the 2012 campaign: You need to get tech-savvy people on your team, and put data bases, social media and analytics to good use. The Obama team did a superior job on that front in 2012, and that's a big reason why Mitt Romney lost. Emphasizing that the GOP is earnestly trying to vet its candidates, air out its different positions and craft realistic, forward-thinking policies, should be a key strategy.

As they say, you don't want to see sausage or legislation being made. Let's add, you may not want to see the 2016 GOP primary season play out. It could get unwieldy and ugly, but in the long run, it just might prove beneficial.

 

150 Years Ago Today

President Abraham Lincoln died 150 years ago today, a few hours after being shot by assassin John Wilkes Booth on the evening of Good Friday, April 14, 1865.

Lincoln is revered by many as the nation's greatest president; however, millions who sympathize with the Confederate cause don't think so highly of him. Ditto for those who despise Lincoln's policies that ran roughshod over the U.S. constitution.

Lincoln jailed editors and publishers whose newspapers printed stories he believed threatened national security; he suspended the writ of habeas corpus; and he sent federal troops in to New York City to brutally suppress the draft riots, killing over 100 people and injuring many more. But in the end, following a savage conflict that killed over 600,000 Americans, Lincoln did preserve the nation and end slavery, a disgraceful institution that thrived for centuries on this continent.

It is tempting to paint a clear-cut picture of Lincoln as an almost saintly figure, but reasonable people can disagree about some of his policies and even his execution of the Civil War. Like all humans, Lincoln was flawed, suffered setbacks, disappointments, betrayals and heartache. Like everyone else, he made mistakes and miscalculations.

But to paraphrase the famous words of President Theodore Roosevelt, Lincoln was truly the man who was actually in the arena, taking the slings and arrows of critics and working hard to do what he thought was best. He did not shy away from making difficult decisions and living with the consequences.

Anyone who has read a biography of Lincoln, or perhaps seen the 2012 movie about him, would acknowledge Lincoln was a significant, substantive person; a man of character. Genuine. Authentic. His anguish and pain were real, etched upon his lined countenance; reflected by his melancholy expressions.

Lincoln's character and seriousness of purpose are what impress me so much about him. These qualities are utterly lacking in 99 percent of today's superficial politicians. Although our deeply troubled nation sorely needs leaders of Lincoln's stature, it appears there's an unabridged dearth of such individuals.

Let's hope that changes in the near future, because time is running out.

 

 

A Dead-End Agenda

The 7th century throwbacks of the Middle East are threatening the world -- Iran with its soon-to-be-achieved goal of possessing nuclear weapons and vow to incinerate Israel; ISIS cutting a cruel swath across the Levant with its savage, vicious beheadings and crucifixions; nut-job jihadists striving to die for the sake of Allah -- and take as many "infidels" with them as possible.

Yet, in this country, the left focuses on gay marriage, Indiana's religious freedom act, climate change, and the manufatured "crisis" of income inequality. Those who dare to dissent from the flavor-of-the-month cause celebre are demonized and labeled intolerant haters, knuckle-dragging/mouth-breathing neanderthals. The odious and corrupt press plays along, being the stooges they are.

This Orwellian scenario feeds on and is fed by the utter delusion of the Obama administration's Alice in Wonderland worldview. Hate to say it, mainstream media, but gay marriage doesn't really rank high up there among the world's most pressing issues.

The world is at a highly precarious crossroads, and the president focuses on climate change as an alleged national security threat --  whenever he's not focusing on hitting a golfball, that is. My house is burning to the ground -- oh, but I've got to get that slow leak repaired on the right front tire of my Malibu. Don't distract me from my vital mission!

The Republicans' ridiculously huge field of presidential candidates has plenty of material to work with, but alas, most or all of them will squander their opportunity. The utter mediocrity of so many political candidates/consultants/speechwriters/pollsters really hit home Saturday when I opened a form letter from the Scott Walker campaign asking for money.

The letter was riddled with inane cliches (underlined and bold-faced, no less!). Is a major presidential candidate from one of the two main political parties really going to send out a fundraising letter (asking for $5,000, LOL!) with trite phrases like "Bold ideas" and "Fresh ideas"?

Couldn't your average 10th grader write something more compelling? Seems like it. The fact is, politicians today are as bad as much of the so-called music that's out there. There just isn't a lot of talent; there's an inspiration void, a dearth of creativity and a leadership vacuum.

Our economy, society, politics and morals are rudderless; bleakly barren. One side thinks gay marriage, free birth control pills and green energy are at the top of the priority list. And the other side, while knowing that's poppycock, doesn't have the courage or gumption to say so. We are truly in deep trouble.

 

Something's Amiss

Just in the past few days we have seen news reports of several disturbing violent actions by law enforcement officials that seem completely out of proportion given the circumstances.

In South Carolina, a police officer shot a man in the back who was running from him. The suspect was wanted for non-payment of child support. The officer, who fired eight shots and only hit the victim with one of them, has been fired and charged with murder.

In San Bernardino County, Calif., sheriff's deputies were videotaped beating and kicking a man suspected of stealing a horse. The man, while no angel, did not appear to provoke such a vicious attack, as he surrendered without a fight.

Last month in Madison, Wis., an unarmed 19-year-old was shot and killed by a city police officer after assaulting the officer. The teen, Tony Robinson, had been jumping in and out of traffic and behaving bizarrely, but that in itself is certainly not reason for violent force. 

These incidents follow the deaths of Anthony Hill in Atlanta, Eric Garner in Staten Island, and 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland (the boy was waving a toy gun around).

In December I commented on the Ferguson, Mo., shooting of Michael Brown, which led to extensive rioting and unrest. The unrest was triggered when a grand jury decided not to indict Officer Darren Wilson after the evidence overwhelmingly found the shooting was justified. What's more, even Attorney General Eric Holder's politicized Justice Department did not bring charges against Wilson.

However, the Justice Department's report on the Ferguson Police Department also found that numerous officers sent racist emails around, which gives credence to black Ferguson residents' claims that they have been treated unfairly for years. The city fired two police officials and a court clerk over the emails.

This disturbing pattern of rogue law enforcement officials needs to be addressed. It is true many cops are under extreme stress, fear for their lives and are frustrated with hardened criminals being put out on the streets after doing little time for serious crimes.

But it also seems there's a "gung-ho" contingent of officers whose machismo and abuse of authority gets the better of them. It's high time law enforcement agencies across the nation thoroughly evaluate their operations and root out the bad apples.

 

Skunk Bears backtrack on "American Sniper"

Though blogging has been light, I would be remiss if I did not note that the University of Michigan has yet again beclowned itself – this time by canceling and then rescheduling the campus showing of “American Sniper.” The episode has all of the classic elements of liberal intolerance – the victim group demanding censorship of something it doesn’t like, the Administration immediately caving in, then partially reversing itself, and – under national ridicule – reversing itself completely. One of the reasons why legislatures across the country are cutting higher education budgets is that there is no clear benefit to funding these open-air insane asylums. The professors and administrators are uniformly leftist and hostile to what used to be called mainstream American society. Given the choice between hiking taxes or telling the universities to get bent, the state legislatures are making the easy choice. Why do these decaying institutions need more tax dollars to teach young adults how to complain and demand special treatment? As an extra bonus, St. Jim of Harbaugh took time out of his busy schedule of not supporting charity to tweet in support of showing the film. This did two things: 1. It got his name in the papers, and 2. It demonstrated that he has no problem with shooting his mouth off about his employer. It is not difficult to imagine this habit may become problematic for him in the future when the issue is not so clearly defined.

Happy Easter

A Happy Easter to all Posse readers! Today is the holiest of Christian holy days, but its message of salvation and hope is rooted in love. So, as the expression goes, think of the spirit of the "law," rather than the letter.

I am not afraid to say "Merry Christmas" to cashiers or passersby on the street, even though I realize they may be of a different faith, atheists or agnostics. And believe me, I would not be the least bit offended if someone said, "Happy Passover" or gave some other salutation that comes from a sincere, well-meaning heart.

We all need to get past the ridiculous political correctness that is strangling our language and traditions. If universities want to play these silly games in their disconnected bubble, let 'em have at it. But don't let that pernicious mindset embed its tentacles in our society.

DUKE BEDEVILS MSU -- The Duke Blue Devils to the Michigan State Spartans are sort of like Moby Dick to Capt. Ahab. Well, not quite that dramatic, but this has become a bothersome pattern. Saturday evening, Duke whipped the Spartans, 81-61 in one NCAA semifinal game, putting an end to MSU's unexpected deep tournament run. It was Coach Tom Izzo's seventh Final Four appearance since 1999, and the 10th time Izzo's squads have done battle with Duke teams coached by Mike Krzyzewski.  Alas, Izzo is 1-9 vs. his nemesis, only defeating Duke in 2005 enroute to another unexpected Final Four appearance.

It's not that Coach K is so much better than Coach Izzo; it's just that Duke repeatedly has far more talent than MSU on its roster. This year's Duke team has eight McDonald's high school All-Americans, while MSU's roster has just one: Branden Dawson. The difference in talent was apparent last night, and hard to swallow after such a great tournament run. Duke big man Jahlil Okafor is asoundingly fast and agile for such a giant, and the Spartans had no answer for him.

Despite the bitter end, I give great credit to Michigan State for fighting its way through the Big Ten Conference and NCAA tournaments, losing in overtime to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament and beating four good teams before bowing out Saturday. Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication, guys!

WISCONSIN BADGERS KENTUCKY -- Big Ten Champion Wisconsin did what few thought anyone could do: Defeat a multi-talented Kentucky Wildcats team stocked with future NBA players. Kentucky was 38-0 entering the contest and sought to become the first undefeated NCAA basketball champion since the Indiana Hoosiers of 1975-76. Last night's 71-64 Badgers victory was a thrilling, entertaining game. Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky is incredibly talented and tough to defend. It's no surprise he won the national player of the year award.

Wisconsin (36-3) goes on to face Duke (34-4) in Monday night's national championship game. For what it's worth, Duke beat the Badgers, 80-70, in Madison, Wis., back in December. This should be an entertaining tilt.

THE BOXER -- No, I am not referring to that great old classic by Simon & Garfunkel. I speak of Sen. Harry Reid, who used to be a professional boxer and apparently, according to this update, has lost considerable pugilistic proficiency in his old age. It seems apparent that Reid lied when he said he incurred his injuries on Jan. 1 due to an accident with an exercise machine. In all likelihood, he got his butt kicked. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

JOBLESS RECOVERY - With all that's going on -- the Middle East aflame, the nuclear deal with Iran, tornadoes wreaking havoc across the South, and the Final Four hysteria -- it would have been easy to miss Friday's March jobs report. Economists projected 248,000 jobs created; the actual number was 126,000. And it goes without saying, many are part-time and/or low wage jobs. Moreover, the labor force participation rate is the lowest in over 35 years, so the actual uneployment rate is far worse than we've been led to believe. This is the type of dismal news the press would trumpet ad nauseam if a Republican were president. But instead, they wave the pom-poms for the O-man. Frankly, this economy is still in deep trouble.

 

The scourging of Indiana

One of the lessons of Good Friday is that even the most well-meaning people can be seduced into acts of profound cruelty.

The tale of the Passion of the Christ can be broken down simply:  God sent His only son to redeem mankind and turn us from our sinful ways.  Our response was to mock, torture and execute him.  The Gospel pretty much tells you all you need to know about human nature.  It resonates thousands of years later because it is repeated constantly.

The Left likes to imagine that mankind is perfectible and that Original Sin is merely a superstition peddled by an oppressive and backward patriarchy.  Tolerant, thoughtful people with the proper education and beliefs are beyond the reach of such antiquated notions.

Boromir epitomised the progressive mentality when he asked Frodo for the One Ring, explaining:  “Truehearted men, they cannot be corrupted.” 

Immediately thereafter he attempted to take the Ring by brute force.

This week they once again proved themselves wrong.

If the corporate CEOs and media outlets served as the Pharisees in our modern Passion Play, the Republican establishment played the role of Pontius Pilate, washing their hands of the thing.  They have other things to think about, and anyway these social issues are awfully messy.  It’s a losing cause, it will alienate voters and distract us from the real problems affecting the country.  If a few small businesses/corporate CEOs/little people get tossed to the mob, so be it.

Ace has been rather annoying to read of late, particularly his “take my marbles and go home” attitude (which he also blends with a “join the other side out of spite” argument, but here he is dead on.  If the GOP leadership cannot rouse itself to defend an innocent small business, what good are they?

Meanwhile, the Right has responded to hate with love.   This is what sets people of good will apart from the mob: they tear down, while we rebuild.

Yes, it is better to stop the destruction in the first place, but failing that, offering healing also offers hope and sends a clear message to others who may face the fury of the mob:  “You are not alone.  Stand fast and we will help.  The Left offers hate but we will sacrifice our own finances to make you whole.”

As for changing the GOP, it is a work of years, not single elections.  If you hate the leadership, you have to methodically chop into it as you would a vineyard that has gone to waste.  The weeds have had decades to bury their roots – one or two elections is not enough to dig them out.  Some areas may have be burned over in order to be reclaimed.  Useless tools like Boehner can be hit in a primary and if that fails, then openly sacrifice the seat to crush him in the general.  The thing is, be rational about it.

It is also important to look at the local scene – the county party leadership, the state leadership committee.  This is where the levers are pulled.  This is where all that energy does the most good.

All that being said, we live in a fallen world.  Expecting it to be otherwise is unrealistic and can also lead to even greater suffering.  Every effort to build paradise on earth leads to mass graves.  Every.  One.

Sometimes the best we can hope for is to keep the candle of faith burning through another day.