The Pope participated in a really nice event where young children released a couple of innocent pure white doves as a beautiful symbol of peace.  Almost immediately a large crow and a seagull saw the doves and attacked.  Both doves appear to have survived the initial assault and flew off into the sunset.  If these were true doves, they are probably dead now.  That is because doves raised by humans don’t have the skill set to survive in the wild.  In addition, being pure white makes for pretty pictures but it also makes the doves a target that even a crow and a seagull couldn’t resist.  The next time they will probably be attacked by a more skilled predator than a crow or a seagull.

By the way, wild doves are almost never pure white.  So odds are these doves were from a breeder.  This probably didn’t end well for the doves.

Sometimes when doves are released they aren’t really doves, they are homing pigeons.  That actually is more humane, because the homing pigeons circle a few times and then fly home for dinner.  In most cases this strategy prevents them from becoming dinner.

In many ways this dove release is an apt description of the real world.  While we all would love to think of a world where gentle creatures can just all get along with peace and love, that ignores reality.  In the real world there are real predators and if someone bigger and stronger is not around to provide protection the innocent get devoured.

It still was a very heartwarming scene, at least until the crow and the seagull got involved.

TDM

On the evening of December 7, 1941 Orson Wells was scheduled to put on a live performance on the Gulf Screen Guild Theater radio program.  He put on a remarkable presentation called:  “Between Americans.”  Wells did a brilliant job of explaining what is so special about this country.   One of the things he pointed out is that Americans get upset when they see injustice.  That is because our shared heritage is the freedom from tyranny and oppression.  Here, even if we don’t agree with someone, we still stand up for them if they are treated unfairly.  It is what distinguishes us from the rest of the world.

The Obama administration appears to have been abusing power for some time.  It doesn’t get much worse than using the IRS to target political appointees. Or so I thought.  Now we know it can get worse, much worse.   Incredibly the DOJ, who can’t seem to find the time to investigate Fast & Furious, Benghazi, or the IRS scandal is sanctimoniously launching an investigation of Chris Christie.  Then The DOJ doubled down by indicting Dinesh D’Souza for making an undisclosed $20,000 campaign contribution.  How obvious can you get?  This is particularly disgusting when you compare what D’Souza did to the bizarre story of Hillary Clinton and Peter Franklin Paul.

Just as Orson Wells pointed out on a bleak winter evening in 1941, the American people tend to become outraged at this kind of crap.  There are already signs that the main stream media is waking up.  Don Lemon pointed out that Barack Obama blaming Fox News and Rush Limbaugh for misleading the American public is absurd.

It is quite possible that the feeding frenzy on Duck Dynasty, Chris Christie and now Dinesh D’ Souza was a huge mistake.  The Republican establishment has been terrified to investigate this President or anyone else.  They seem more worried about hurting Hillary Clinton’s feelings than asking her legitimate questions.  People were already furious about the lack of action.  Now this restraint has been repaid with a witch-hunt assault on two top Republicans for a traffic jam and a $20,000 campaign contribution.  Don’t be surprised if frustration changes to rage.

When you combine this with the complete collapse of ObamaCare and some really scary economic news, a lot of people are really upset.  This truly is the winter of our discontent and we should all be prepared for stormy weather.

TDM

The Washington Examiner is reporting that Moody’s has downgraded the entire health insurance industry, changing the outlook for health insurers from “stable” to “negative.”  The reason given for this decision is that ObamaCare has failed to enroll enough younger healthier participants.  This is a clear indication that the financial analysts recognize that ObamaCare has put the entire health insurance industry into a death spiral.  In addition, the arbitrary decision by the Obama administration to change regulations after insurance carriers had already set prices has made the situation worse.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/moodys-slashes-outlook-on-insurers-cites-obamacare-uncertainty/article/2542744

This also includes some wording that is destined to scare investors:

Moody’s also said it was “unclear” whether the impact of the new tax on health insurance policies was properly accounted for by insurers in their 2014 forecasts.

In other words, it looks bad and it might be worse than it looks.  This is proof that ObamaCare is collapsing even faster than I thought possible even a couple of weeks ago.  It will be interesting to see how the financial markets respond.  If they believe this report, then the effect on the entire health insurance industry will be instant and obvious.

I must point out that the insurance industry is the cornerstone of our economy and if we start having insolvency issues with regard to health insurance carriers it will be a very big deal.  When you combine this with the other troubling trends in our economy it is hard to be an optimist.

No amount of spin by the liberal left or the main stream media can fix this.  It is increasingly obvious that ObamaCare is a complete and total disaster.  The sad reality is that politicians rarely make difficult decisions until faced with imminent disaster. Well wecome imminent disaster.  If things continue as they are, they will soon have no choice but to take some kind of action.  This is now impossible to predict.  But, it is sure a blue Moody’s in Washington today.

TDM

Have you ever read the list of references that mean exactly the opposite of what someone thinks?   For example:  “No one could have done better.”  What they mean is that “having no one at all would be better than this clown.”  Unfortunately, this applies to our current Congress and specifically the House of Representatives where Republicans have a majority.  What difference does it make if you have the majority if you are incapable of doing anything with it?

I for one am sick and tired of congressional hearings that accomplish nothing.  The typical hearing goes like this:

Each committee member gets about 3 minutes to ask questions.  All the Republicans try to ask loaded questions that the person testifying ignores.  Direct questions are seldom asked and never answered.  The next questioner is a Democrat, who gives a speech praising the Obama administration.

This is not working.  It is clear that both Republican and Democratic members are more worried about grand-standing than they are about asking questions and getting answers.   Why bother holding a hearing at all if there is no chance of getting any answers?

This problem could be fixed in about five minutes with the following rules.

1.  No one testifies before congress without being sworn in.   Why bother asking questions of someone who is under no obligation to tell the truth. (That includes Hillary Clinton)

2.  Each committee member gets 30 seconds to introduce themselves.  That way they can grand-stand and then shut up. 

3.  Both parties get together and select one person to ask the questions.  If they can’t agree on one person, they each get to choose one and split the time. 

4.  All questions must be questions about the facts.  No questions about how someone feels.  No gotcha questions.  No feel good questions.  If they can’t think of a good direct question, shut up. 

5.  If the person testifying refuses to answer questions or gives evasive answers, the time of the hearing is automatically extended.  No witness is allowed to leave that hearing room without either answering direct questions about the facts or pleading the fifth.

If congress did that we wouldn’t be wondering what about the following more than 15 months after the Benghazi attack:

We would know exactly who did or did not authorize extra security at the Benghazi mission.

We would know exactly who developed the erroneous talking points arrogantly spouted by Susan Rice on the Sunday talk shows following the attack. 

We would know why Ambassador Stevens was in Benghazi.

We don’t know any of these things just like we don’t know much about Fast & Furious or the IRS illegal targeting of conservatives.    Unless something changes there is zero chance we will learn the answers prior to the 2016 election.  Instead we will see more circus act congressional hearings that accomplish nothing.

If these questions deserve answers, than demand answers.  If they don’t deserve answers, then move on and investigate something else.  If Congress wants to hold people accountable it has the congressional authority to do exactly that.  The question is not what they can do.  It is whether or not they are ready, willing and able to do this.  So far, sadly, the answer is no.

No wonder President Obama is so willing to ignore congress.  Why would he be afraid of these guys?

Like I said, “nobody could do a better job.”  “A least nobody wouldn’t be pretending to be somebody.”

TDM

The Senate Intelligence committee has issued a report on Benghazi and it is absolutely devastating for Hillary Clinton.  What is most incredible about this report is that Dianne Feinstein is Chairman of that committee and clearly this was designed to spare Hillary Clinton to the extent possible.   Yet in spite of the obvious effort to avoid criticizing Hillary, she may have been fatally wounded as a candidate for President of the United States.  She certainly should be eliminated as a candidate by anyone reading this report with an ounce of objectivity.

Following is a link to the actual report and the principle findings:

http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/benghazi2014/benghazi.pdf

I will not repeat this lengthy report.  I will just provide my own summary.

1. There were numerous warnings about the danger but no one in the State Department or anywhere else in the Obama administration did anything about it.
2. A lot of people knew this was a terrorist attack from the first moment.  No competent analysis would have ever concluded that this was the result of over-reaction to a video.The clearly erroneous “talking points” were based on open source press reports, not any real intelligence or analysis.
3. The State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) did not disseminate any independent analysis for at least a year following the attack.
4. The DNIs Office of Analytic Integrity and Standards failed to prepare an accurate report and refused to provide complete and accurate information to Congress.
5. No one has been held accountable.

Hillary Clinton was in charge of the State Department and after this report it is impossible to even argue that she was on top of things.  No one is claiming that security was adequate.  No one is claiming that this was well-managed.  No one is claiming that the American people were told the truth.  The only question is the extent to which this was the result of callous indifference, gross dereliction of duty or mere laziness and incompetence.

So we are left with:

1. Hillary the ruthless and uncaring; or
2. Hillary the incompetent; or
3. Hillary the clueless.

.  Which do you prefer?

TDM

This administration may have made one of the dumbest decisions in the history of the U.S. Presidency.  Many Presidents have made important appointments while the Senate was in recess, in order to by-pass opposition.  George W. Bush appointed John Bolton to be Ambassador to the UN under a recess appointment.

But Obama brought this to a new level.  He pushed through recess appointments when the Senate was technically still in session.  He decided that if he didn’t feel the Senate was in session, it wasn’t.   How incredibly arrogant.  Obama felt that he alone could decide how the Senate was going to operate.

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments regarding the ability of any President to make recess appointments and the results are likely to be a severe limitation on Presidential power.

Here is what the constitution says:

“The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

The D.C. Circuit court said that a President can only make a recess appointment if the Senate is in recess and the vacancy occurred during the recess. 

It is always risky to predict Supreme Court decisions, but in this case even Obama appointees appear to be skeptical of the administration’s logic.  Justice Elena Kagan, appointed by Obama, said the following:

When it comes to deciding when the Senate is in recess, “the history is entirely on the Senate’s side, not your side.”

Justice Stephen G. Breyer said:

I can’t find anything that says the purpose of this clause has anything to do with political fights between Congress and the president.”

Even Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg added the following:

“The Senate – I think to be candid – – the Senate is always available.  They can be called back on very short notice.”

Based on these comments it is quite possible the Supreme Court is going to rule that the constitution means what it says.  If they do that, it will be a devastating blow for a president who has ignored the Constitution on a regular basis.  It will be a slap shot to the face of this administration.  This won’t stop with recess appointments.

TDM

For a long time I worked for a major grocery wholesaler.  This company provided service to hundreds of independent grocery stores.  Once I was visiting a store along with one of our meat department experts.  The owner asked him to look at the books, because he felt profits were too low.  This expert looked at the books for about five minutes and said “your meat manager is stealing from you.”  The store owner was shocked and angry.  He said he knew this young man very well and there was no possibility that he was a thief.  The expert just smiled and said:  “I’m sure you’re right, but do you mind if we just run a couple of simple checks to make sure.”  The store owner reluctantly agreed, primarily so he could prove that his meat manager was above reproach.  So we ran the tests and sure enough, the meat manager was stealing.

I later talked to that expert and I asked him how he could be so sure.  He said is it quite simple:  “As soon as I looked at the profit margins on his meat department I knew that someone was stealing.   Since the meat manager is the one who has the control, he (or she) is almost always the one doing the stealing.”  I asked, “Have you ever been wrong about this?”  He laughed and said, “So far, no.”

Here in the United States, only one candidate for president ever got over 61% of the vote and that was Lyndon Johnson.  Yet the liberal left would have us believe that Democrats routinely win elections by huge margins in every major metropolitan area.  These results are not statistically possible, without manipulation.  We all instinctively know that.  In communist countries the leader frequently gets an extremely high percentage of the vote.  That is one way we know those elections are shams.  If we believe there is no voter fraud in virtually every major metropolitan area we are beyond stupid. 

During the Iraq elections, people had to dip their finger in purple ink so that they couldn’t vote twice.  Sadly, there was more integrity with that election than there was in ours.  Our election laws are so convoluted and there are so many convenient loop holes that it is a recipe for voter fraud.  Not only do I believe in voter fraud, I suspect it is far more wide spread than anyone can even imagine.  Certainly more than Democrats will ever admit.

If Republicans accomplish nothing else this year they must insist on voter ID laws in every state, in every precinct in every election.  The majority of people in both parties support voter ID.  The only people who are opposed to it are liberal Democrats who are terrified of losing elections in major metropolitan areas.  That is exactly why it needs to be done.  We need to call their bluff.  We need to ask them why they are so afraid of an honest election.

Just remember that meat department.  If the numbers don’t add up, it is time to take action.  How can we possibly consider ourselves free if we cannot trust our most fundamental right; the right to fair and honest elections?

Color me purple.

TDM

I do not know what really happened during “BridgeGate.”  Perhaps Chris Christie will survive this assault and perhaps he won’t.  One thing is certain is that the liberal left is in full attack mode.  They smell blood and they are determined to bring Christie down.  This is the ultimate main stream media feeding frenzy.

I wonder if liberals realize they are making a huge mistake for several reasons.

1.  People are drawn to those who are under assault.  Remember the Duck Dynasty backlash.

1. Chris Christie put on a masterful show.  He gave clear and unambiguous answers and he stayed there until the press ran out of questions.

1. Christie never attacked those people who were asking tough questions.  He did not try to spin this away.

1. He took strong action.  He fired his Deputy Chief of Staff.  He apologized for letting this happen on his watch.  He did not offer any excuses, other than his claim that he did not know this had happened.

1. He did not send out a professional spokesman to deflect questions.  He didn’t say that he couldn’t comment because of potential litigation.  He did not withhold documentation and he did not try to discourage anyone from investigating this.

This is high theatre and we are almost compelled to watch.  The contrast with how this Administration handles things could not be starker.  Even if you hate Chris Christie and everything he stands for, it is hard to ignore the raw talent on display.  You also have to admire his guts for standing up there and taking it on the chin.

BridgeGate won’t last very long.  Whatever the outcome, we won’t have long to wait.  There is no guarantee that Chris Christie survives this.  But he has reminded us that there is no more dangerous creature on earth than a wounded animal who is cornered.   Even when doomed, they often do a lot of damage to the people who cornered them.

TDM

I am not a big fan of CNN Anchor Don Lemon.  I have seen too many times when his broadcasts dripped with liberal bias.  But when a man gets it right, he deserves to get credit and Don Lemon got it right.  In the following clip from an interview with Debbie Wasserman Schultz, head of the DNC, Lemon asked the right question:   :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10560654/In-pictures-Niagara-Falls-freeze-over-on-US-side.html

“He didn’t know about the NSA spying on allies, he didn’t know about the Obamacare website, he didn’t know that you wouldn’t be able to keep your doctor, so what’s the difference between Christie not knowing at the president not knowing?”

The Chris Christie story is very important to Chris Christie.  It is very important to Republicans.  But it is also very important to the Obama administration.  Democrats are making a huge mistake by attacking Christie without realizing that the main stream media may be shamed into investigating Obama.  We just may see a lot more examples of  “Lemon aide” and that will be more than devastating for this administration.

TDM

I must admit that I liked Chris Christie, right up until he did two things that were totally unacceptable.  One was when he scheduled the special election for Senator in New Jersey to run about a month before the general election.  That really smelled.  He obviously did that because he knew Cory Booker was going to run for the Senate and Christie didn’t want a strong Democratic running for any office during his re-election vote.  Then when he disgraced himself by slobbering all over Barack Obama after Hurricane Sandy.  He made Obama look Presidential and competent and this just may have ended any chance Romney had of winning that election.  I understand that Chris Christie wanted the publicity and he wanted the money.  At what price honor?

Now it is clear that his staff deliberately shut down the George Washington Bridge to create havoc for the Major of Fort Lee, who happens to be a Democrat, because he did not endorse Chris Christie.

I strongly believe that we must hold Republicans to the same standard as Democrats.  This behavior is totally unacceptable.  At best, Christie botched this big time.  The first time he learned of the traffic lanes shut downs he should have made sure it was not his people.  Instead he laughed it off.  That we cannot tolerate.  No spin.  No excuses.  This was intolerable.

But, I can’t help but notice the hypocrisy of the main stream media.  Obama laughed it off when the IRS targeted the Tea Party.  The main stream media yawned.  Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Susan Snow all lied about Benghazi.  No one in the main stream media noticed.  Eric Holder lied to congress about Fast & Furious.  The main stream media didn’t care.  Kathleen Sebelius lied to congress about the ObamaCare Roll out. No one in the main stream media seems to think this matters.  Barack Obama lied to the American people about whether or not they could keep their current plan.  The main stream media just ignored it as unimportant.  Apparently to the liberal left this crap only matters when it is a Republican.

They are wrong.  It always matters.  It mattered with regard to Benghazi.  It mattered with regard to the IRS targeting conservative.  It mattered with regard to Fast & Furious.  It mattered with regard to the ACA and yes it matters when the Chief of Staff of the Governor of New Jersey creates a massive traffic jam out of political spite.  Now is the time for Republicans to stand up and say yes it matters.  That, after all, is the difference between Republicans and Democrats.  We believe this crap matters.

But after you get done with Chris Christie, how about glancing at Pennsylvania Avenue.  Yes, creating a traffic jam is really bad.  But allowing a US Ambassador to get killed because you won’t admit your foreign policy has failed is worse.   Letting the IRS target the Tea Party and other conservatives is worse.  Deliberately letting guns walk to Mexico so the drug cartels can use them to kill DEA Agents is worse.  Lying to people about their health care is worse.

Yes, please investigate Chris Christie.  Do not leave any stone unturned.  The people of New Jersey deserve to know the truth.  Chris Christie deserves to be held accountable, assuming that he is guilty of anything.  But just don’t stop there.  That is all we ask. DON’T STOP THERE!   Is that too much to ask?

One final note.  Unless Chris Christie comes up with a lot better explanation than we have heard so far, he is through as a Presidential candidate in the Republican Party.  But, if he was a Democrat, it probably wouldn’t matter.  At worse, this is amateur hour.  It is dumb.  It is stupid.  It is irresponsible.  It hurt a lot of people.  But it pales in comparison to Hillary Clinton opposing a opposing a sitting President with regard to the surge in Iraq, when she knew it was necessary for our national security, for purely political purposes.  That is far more important than a traffice jam.  But the liberal left won’t care because Hillary is a liberal and she is a Democrat.   If you are a liberal Democrat, nothing else matters.

TDM