September 30, 2018 — John Hinderaker

That’s Not Funny!

Featured image Swedes are known for a number of things, but a sense of humor is not one of them. You are no doubt familiar with this meme, which has been put to any number of humorous uses: The meme reflects well-known phenomena of human nature and is endlessly adaptable. But not in Sweden: For anyone unfamiliar with the story so far, Stockholm-based internet service provider Bahnhof shared the meme, officially titled »
September 30, 2018 — Steven Hayward

Our Present Discontents, Then and Now

Featured imageI’m deep into the weeds of Edmund Burke these days, in part for a recent lecture at Yale (video to come) and a series of seminars I’ll be doing soon on Burke (podcasts to come, I think), but even reading this great judicious man from more than 200 years ago can’t draw me away from our current catastrophic political scene. One of Burke’s famous essays was “Thoughts on Our Present »
September 30, 2018 — Scott Johnson

Grassley to Sanders: Drop dead

Featured imageOne person who understands the Democrats’ dirty game in the Kavanaugh confirmation proceedings: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley. I get the feeling that he has had it. In the letter below, he responds in something other than his accustomed style to correspondence received from Senator Bernie Sanders. (The Daily Caller has posted the Sanders letter here.) The famous collegiality of the Senate is not what it used to be, »
September 30, 2018 — John Hinderaker

Grassley to FBI: Investigate Anti-Kavanaugh Liar

Featured imageAs Scott noted a little while ago, Chuck Grassley’s patience with dishonest Democrats appears to be exhausted. Here is another sign: Grassley has referred an anti-Kavanaugh informant to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the FBI for criminal investigation: In my opinion, several other anti-Kavanaugh sources lied to the Judiciary Committee, but this one is unique because he has now admitted that he lied. Hence the criminal referral. »
September 30, 2018 — Scott Johnson

Trump stumps in West Virginia

Featured imageI have become a fan of President Trump’s rallies in support of Republican candidates around the country. They are hugely entertaining, of course, but what a connection he has forged with supporters in flyover land. Last night he appeared in Wheeling, West Virginia to support Republican senatorial candidate Patrick Morrissey. Morrissey is engaged in a difficult but winnable race against Joe Manchin. In the matter of the confirmation of Judge »
September 30, 2018 — Scott Johnson

Save the Senate: Takeaway opportunities

Featured imageIf nothing else, the past week brought home the importance of keeping the Senate under Republican control for the next two years. Paul Mirengoff usually takes the time to sort the races out for us, but we have let the task go this year. Now is the time. Last night John took up the Minnesota’s Karin Housley v. Tina Smith race in the post nearby. Below is my unscientific selection »
September 29, 2018 — John Hinderaker

There Is Still Time To Help Save the Senate

Featured imagePretty much all observers expect the Democrats to capture the House in November. If they do, they will impeach President Trump. But the much more serious danger is that they may also take the Senate. If that happens, the Trump administration will be paralyzed. The Democrats likely will refuse to confirm a single significant appointment. I would not rule out the possibility of a constitutional crisis, if the Democrats try »
September 29, 2018 — Steven Hayward

The Week in Pictures: Justice Kavanaugh Edition

Featured imageWho knew that Flake could take flakery to a whole new level. This theme headline may seem premature, but I don’t think so. In fact, the FBI “investigation” now is unlikely to turn up anything. Meanwhile, another delay, during which Democrats will manufacture more phony allegations, and attempt to intimidate Senators because they think it worked yesterday on Flake, is likely to backfire. There is polling evidence that Republican voter »
September 28, 2018 — John Hinderaker

Flake Flakes Out [Updated]

Featured imageEarlier this morning, Senator Jeff Flake said he would vote Yes on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation. But when the Judiciary Committee met and voted, he threw a curve ball: Flake voted Yes and the nomination went to the Senate floor on an 11-10 party line vote. But Flake said he will ultimately vote for the nomination only if there is a brief delay to permit another FBI investigation. Lisa Murkowski »
September 28, 2018 — Steven Hayward

No, They Have No Decency—Confirmed

Featured imageI was on the road all day yesterday (and again today) and missed all of the Kavanaugh hearing in real time. Scott and John have already offered up solid observations, especially about Senator Lindsey Graham’s finest moment. I’ll bet Rush Limbaugh lets him off the hook today from his usual label as “Lindsey Grahamnesty.” Some other time perhaps I’ll explain why I think Rachel Mitchell’s performance in the hearing was »
September 28, 2018 — Scott Johnson

Graham’s moment

Featured imageI thought that Judge Kavanaugh’s statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on his confirmation to the Supreme Court was a truth shall set you free moment. He called out the Democrats for the game they are playing. The force of his statement even seemed to have a modestly restraining effect on them. In their examination of Judge Kavanaugh, the Democrats reduced their talking points to two. They wanted him »
September 30, 2018 — Scott Johnson

A case for Sheldon Whitehouse

Featured imageIt occurred to me last night that Sheldon Whitehouse may have missed his true calling. There is a mystery at the heart of The National Lampoon 1964 High School Yearbook Parody (published in 1974, written by P.J. O’Rourke and Doug Kenney). Now a classic collector’s item — some thoughtful owner has uploaded a copy to Scribd (below) — Larry Kroger’s copy of the Estes C. Kefauver High yearbook betrayed traces »
September 29, 2018 — Scott Johnson

The Whitehouse farce

Featured imageSenator Sheldon Whitehouse appears to take himself extraordinarily seriously. He speaks gravely. He comes off as an old-fashioned stuffed shirt. When he makes a fool of himself he displays great comic potential. I thought that’s what he did as he examined Judge Kavanaugh on his high school yearbook entry in the course of Thursday’s Judiciary Committee hearing. Whitehouse, incidentally, is still mulling it over. He disputes Judge Kavanaugh’s veracity on »
September 28, 2018 — John Hinderaker

Why the Brett Kavanaugh Smear?

Featured imageOne question I have pondered over the last few weeks is, why are the Democrats so determined to block Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court? Realistically, he is the most moderate nominee they are likely to see from the Trump administration. If his nomination fails, the president will most likely appoint Amy Barrett, who is secure against #MeToo allegations and is both more conservative and younger than Kavanaugh. »
September 28, 2018 — John Hinderaker

Twitter Commentary While Waiting For a Vote [Updated]

Featured imageAt this writing, the Judiciary Committee has not yet voted, although, with Jeff Flake coming out in support this morning, it seems clear it will recommend Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Meanwhile, here are a few Twitter follow-ups to yesterday’s hearing. Appropriately, President Trump came out strongly in support of his nominee: Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats’ search and destroy »
September 28, 2018 — Scott Johnson

The Blumenthal Projection

Featured imageDoes anyone remember what point Democrat Richard Blumenthal sought to make when he began his questioning of Judge Kavanaugh yesterday? Blumenthal prefaced his questions with a citation of the principle falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. The gist of the principle is that if a witness is shown to have lied about one thing, one may infer that a witness lied about everything. The thoughts of anyone familiar with Blumenthal’s »
September 28, 2018 — Scott Johnson

Thoughts from the ammo line

Featured imageAmmo Grrrll an important message and a hashtag of her own: #COUNTMEOUT! She writes: I think the #MeToo “Movement” is the most dangerous movement since the KKK, which it resembles with its mob mentality. And, I speak with total moral authority because I am a woman, whose every squeak and whine is, therefore, “credible.” I can credibly accuse any male from my kindergarten, high school, college, or long-ago workplaces, of »