December 2, 2020 — Steven Hayward
Time for another tour of the current scene by way of charts and graphs that have been piling up on my computer. • Let’s start with COVID trends. We keep getting told by the media and the “experts” that European countries are dealing with COVID so much better than we are, because Europeans!, and Orange Man Bad. But then how come: A larger view: • Mark Perry strikes again at
»
December 2, 2020 — Steven Hayward
Another sad passing to report today—the economist Walter Williams, at age 84. Where to begin describing this wonderful man and teacher? I first came across his early book The State Against the Blacks when it came out in the early 1980s. This and many other works over the years made the compelling case that, as William himself put it, “The welfare state has done to black Americans what slavery couldn’t
»
December 1, 2020 — Steven Hayward
Sad news of the passing yesterday of Bruce Herschensohn, long time conservative activist, documentary filmmaker, and commentator in California. I got to know him a bit in the mid-1980s when he was a commentator on a local TV news program in LA (paired up for nightly debates with former Democratic Senator John Tunney—see the promotional ad below), and then when he ran for the Senate in 1992, losing narrowly to
»
November 30, 2020 — Steven Hayward
As is well known, you aren’t allowed to criticize Black Lives Matter (still less say anything as offensive as “All Lives Matter”), Critical Race Theory, or any aspect of transgenderism. And it seems increasingly difficult to criticize the orthodoxy of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) in any way. Witness the case of Dorian Abbot, a professor of geology at the University of Chicago, who has criticized the DEI orthodoxy. He’s
»
November 30, 2020 — Steven Hayward
There’s a refrain on the left that is now so familiar as to be unremarkable. The form runs, “Even Reagan wasn’t as bad as [insert current Republican president here].” It got a workout under George W. Bush, and it’s gotten heavy use under Trump. And already I’ve seen several articles in the New York Times and elsewhere saying, “Whatever the GOP offers us after Trump will be even worse.” To
»
November 29, 2020 — Steven Hayward
Paul notes below several razor-close House races, including especially Iowa 2, where the Republican candidate, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, is leading by six votes. Prediction: if Miller-Meeks is certified as the winner, House Democrats will refuse to seat her in January, so desperate are they to secure every possible House seat they can. Can they do this? Yes—because House Democrats have done this before. Back in 1984, in what became known as
»
November 28, 2020 — Steven Hayward
At one point during the livecast recording of this week’s episode on Zoom, a commenter said the score was “Lucretia 6, Hayward 0,” so naturally I thought I was only behind by two field goals, and thus easy to make up in the 4th Quarter. But then the commenter clarified that he was using soccer scoring, which meant that I was getting crushed. “Ask Paul,” he added unnecessarily. Oh well.
»
November 28, 2020 — Steven Hayward
By now we’re supposed to be clear of our tryptophan-induced post-turkey coma, which, come to think of it, previews the comatose future of a prospective Biden Administration. With John Kerry holding a cabinet-level position, I suspect the first cabinet meeting might last until next Thanksgiving, or at least to Biden’s new favorite liturgical holiday, Psalm Sunday. Headlines of the week: And finally. . . Ashley St. Clair:
»
November 27, 2020 — Steven Hayward
For those of you sleeping off your Thanksgiving dinner coma, a reminder that this afternoon at 4 pm (Pacific)/7pm (Eastern), “Lucretia” and I will be hosting a live taping of the Three Whisky Happy Hour podcast via Zoom. We’ll be covering the highlights of the week, as well as taking audience questions. We’re making this event open to all Power Line readers as a bit of an experiment. Our Zoom
»
November 26, 2020 — Steven Hayward
I’ve noticed today that the left is in a fury about the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling last night striking down New York’s wholly arbitrary restrictions on churches and other places of worship because the Court is “ignoring the advice of the experts.” True indeed. I could go on at some length about old cases involving the arbitrary (and therefore unconstitutional) use of the government’s police power, but in this case
»
November 26, 2020 — Steven Hayward
Who would have thought that French President Emmanuel Macron would emerge as a Defender of the West against the multicultural nihilism eating away at our foundations. In the aftermath of the beheading of a French schoolteacher for the sin of displaying some of the Charlie Hebdo cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed, Macron has not been mincing words. In fact he’s been sounding like the polar opposite of an American-style “inclusionary”
»
November 26, 2020 — Steven Hayward
Remember our counsel from last Saturday. Your gathering today is not a Thanksgiving holiday dinner. It is a protest. What are you protesting? It doesn’t matter: just quote Marlon Brando in The Wild Ones: “Whaddya got?” Happy “Thanksgiving” everybody! And finally. . .
»
November 25, 2020 — Steven Hayward
Scott has written this morning of Amazon’s erratic censorship of Alex Berenson’s contrarian work on COVID, as well as his own reviews, but this is just one instance of a leftist censoriousness and authoritarianism that is accelerating. Let’s continue with COVID authoritarianism, with these headlines: NYC Will Have Covid Checkpoints at Key Bridges and Crossings New York City will have vehicle checkpoints at key bridges and crossings, and will strictly
»
November 24, 2020 — Steven Hayward
Well this didn’t take long. ‘People are pissed’: Tensions rise amid scramble for Biden jobs It is still early in the Biden transition. There are thousands of jobs to fill. But a similar sense of dread is starting to bubble up from veterans of the Biden campaign, particularly those who were there with the president-elect from the Philadelphia announcement speech to the Philadelphia victory speech. The target of their ire?
»
November 24, 2020 — Steven Hayward
By popular demand of our 12 listeners and in emulation of many of our podcast peers on the Ricochet network—but against our better judgment—”Lucretia” and I will be hosting a live taping of our Three Whisky Happy Hour this Friday afternoon at 4 pm Pacific/7 pm eastern. And—bonus!—we’re going to make the Zoom session a webinar format open to the entire Power Line readership for free, though we hope people
»
November 24, 2020 — Steven Hayward
News item: Biden has ambitious plans for gun control, including bans on certain kinds of weapons, an excise tax on so-called “assault” rifles, and of course more background checks. You can read all the dreary details here if you’re a glutton. News item: “During my twelve-and-half years as a member of this body, I have never believed that additional gun control or federal registration of guns would reduce crime. I am
»
November 23, 2020 — Steven Hayward
News item: Biden intends to name John Kerry to be his “climate czar.” News item: Oil and gas stocks soaring on Wall Street today. Coincidence? I think not! I can think of no greater condign punishment for the International Order of Climatistas than sending Mr. Flower-Power Zipper Pull to their annual gabfests. This is the man who puts the goober in “lugubrious.” I hope and expect that he will take
»
