Weekend Data Dump

Until the Wisconsin suppression of conservatives in Wisconsin under color of rule of law in those "John Doe investigations" is fully revealed with Democratic operatives within the state sent to prison, this will be a stain on democracy and rule of law. This is Third World Banana Republic stuff. And it happened in America.

German Chancellor Merkel welcomed migrants and refugees and got so many that it hurt her political stature and angered other European states that had to cope with the flood of people and effects. The entire European Union project could be threatened because of Merkel's feel good preening initiative. In completely unrelated news, California Governor Brown has signed legislation to make California a "sanctuary state" that welcomes illegal immigrants. This will increase budget problems, crime, and the appeal of non-liberal areas in seceding from California to form a new state.  Enjoy. Hopefully without federal money to cope with the effects.

It's rather sad that the proliferation of television options has reduced the need for television shows to seek a non-political common approach to appeal to all Americans. Indeed, the example of late night shows indicates that appealing to a liberal base is the new operating procedure. Funny that none of them considered appealing to a conservative base. It's almost like Hollywood is a monolithic leftist institution. And now I can't remember who to offer a hat tip to for the story. Sorry.

Jobs were lost in September. While hurricanes affected that, this should be a warning that  anticipating job-creating laws, regulations, and tax laws will not propel economic growth for long and require actual job-creating laws, regulations, and tax laws.

I know the THC crowd (Trump Hysteria Condition) thinks the Russian Facebook advertisement buys are big news. But they were trivial. And most appeared after the election. If the Russians were trying to elect Trump why didn't they air them before the election and why air any after Trump won? Shouldn't the Russians have been ecstatic? As I said after the election, Russia was surely trying to damage Clinton who they expected to win and were trying to tarnish the image of our election to reduce the appeal of American-style democracy to Russians. Democrats are doing more to harm Brand America than Putin did. Tip to Instapundit.

God help us all, but the Left still hasn't reached Peak Stupid, I fear.

I understand why Congressional Republicans are wary of President Trump. I do. But if Congressional Republicans don't get their act together and pass Republican bills that the president will gladly sign to get "wins," Trump--long a rather liberal Democrat--will get bills to his desk by working with Democrats and peeling off enough moderate Republicans to get the edge. Yes, Republicans control the leadership and so could resist a lot of that, but what happens in the 2018 mid-terms? And the media will completely support the "evolved" Trump, have no doubt. Or do you think a sitting president will have a problem decimating his own party if it helps his own popularity? Time is running out.

It's almost as if liberalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Federal laws encourage people to flee Puerto Rico and discourage business. So reducing the island territory's debt won't set Puerto Rico on a good course. Maybe the island should be made a free trade zone to encourage economic growth. And set an example.

I mean, other than the aqueduct ...

Indonesia has long been a hug Moslem-majority state with a moderate form of Islam. Is that changing for the worst as the economy falters?

I've long viewed Venezuela and Cuba as the core of an Axis of El Vil (the vile one), as a variation of the Axis of Evil that pose real dangers. The Axis of El Vil is hostile and socialist, but is more annoying than dangerous because of their weakness. Sometimes I've wondered whether junior partners like Haiti or Nicaragua should be considered part of the Axis of El Vil. Is Erdogan taking Turkey into the Axis of El Vil to thumb his nose at America? "Maduro and Erdogan oversaw the signing of five agreements for cooperation on air travel, tourism, culture, agriculture, and international crime. They discussed ways to deepen economic and energy ties and explored opportunities for military industry cooperation, the Turkish leader said." What is the point? Tip to Instapundit.

Without Columbus discovering the Americas, would the free West have arisen at all?  And for all the claim that Europeans destroyed indigenous people living at peace in the New World, recall that the tribes and empires conquered by Europeans were themselves the winners of New World conflicts among the people of the Americas prior to 1492 (and boy were they violent). That was the way of the world then. And the then-existing conflict is why Europeans found eager allies in the Americas to fight other Native Americans. By today's standards, we wouldn't do what Native Americans or Europeans (or Africans or Asians) did every damned day. But we'd have to repudiate everybody back then regardless of race or religion if modern standards are what matters when judging our ancestors (and it isn't the standard). I swear, we should save money by refusing to put up any monuments (including naming buildings after people) to current politicians because future generations could decide they are unworthy of the honor. Or do you really think our current generation has reached the end of history at peak morality? And by the way, is the anti-Columbus Left saying that unrestricted immigration is dangerous to the receiving people? Just wondering.

While I still watch my Lions (I know, I have issues), I no longer routinely put on other NFL games to have on while I do other things just to listen to the game and watch a really good play when it happens. I'm not a Nielsen's family for tracking ratings, I know. But I just don't feel like supporting the NFL as they disrespect the flag in a completely mis-targeted protest against unjustified police shootings.

Harvey Weinstein apparently was well known in Hollywood for sexually harassing (and worse) women, if the news reports are correct. So Donald Trump's old comment--when he was a man of entertainment who knew the business--that if you were wealthy enough and powerful enough that women would let you grab their p***y was a commentary on Hollywood culture rather than any type of personal confession, eh? How many in Hollywood remained silent to let this go on for decades? And how many remain silent now because there are so many more predators still out there? Remember, Roman Polanski is still honored in Hollywood! Is that "normal" in Hollywood? And are the changing standards going to take down Bill Clinton who is no longer useful given that Hillary lost? Yeah, remind me again about how conservatives are anti-women.

The Hill incorrectly published a report that the US drone fleet was infected by a virus, but took it down--you just get an access denied page--explaining: "Editor's note: This story inadvertently went off reporting from a Wired.com article published in 2011. The story, as published by The Hill, incorrectly stated that ..." from the web search.

The Russians and their Assad allies exploited those "de-escalation zones" where ceasefires were negotiated in the west to focus on killing more Syrian rebels. That and more in Strategypage's tour of Syria.

I don't understand how sentient beings can think the Iran nuclear deal is even remotely good. Just going through what was made public at the time looked horrible. The delusions are strong. But I recall that liberals were horrified that President Trump dumped the Paris climate deal--until even global warming fanatics confronted the fact that the deal was worthless even by their own terms of the debate. So I've got that going for me. Which is nice.

The unresolved scandals with no press coverage.

This is a great point: Hollywood is vocally part of the so-called Resistance against "fascist" Trump; but was silent in the face of  allegedly sexual predator Harvey Weinstein's victims. So who do the Hollywood types actually fear, eh?

Campus crybullies increasingly shout down speakers without any consequences. I say expel the students who do that and require them to immediately start repaying their student loans.

It occurs to me that not being dead yet is in the short run indistinguishable from being immortal.

America has led the fight against ISIL but the lying Russians charge America of "pretending" to fight ISIL. #WhyRussiaCan'tHaveNiceThings

Yeah, the India-China border dispute isn't anywhere near resolved.

Given the accusations, can you imagine the world of hurt Harvey Weinstein would be in if he was a college student at the mercy of college administrators?

Boko Haram is still killing up to 100 per month. Corruption has a role. Although to be fair to corruption, mass murder, beheading, and kidnapping/raping girls isn't a normal response to corruption.

Our Navy sailed near Chinese-claimed islands in the South China Sea, but not real close. Apparently our ship violated China's more broad "line" of regional claims rather than being a true freedom of navigation mission within 12 miles of a specific island. China complained. What I would like to note is that despite the news during the Obama administration of the Navy carrying out "freedom of navigation operations," it is now recognized that the Obama administration conducted "innocent passage" operations that did not challenge Chinese claims. I questioned the Obama era claims despite the consensus.

Why is Harvey Weinstein going to Europe for "sex addiction therapy" when no sex--a consensual activity--at all was involved in allegations of rape and sexual harassment? Those are physical assaults and a matter of imposing superior power. He made "mistakes," indeed. But no, really, The Handmaid's Tale is about how conservatives would treat women like slaves if they aren't stopped.

California fires could threaten the state's marijuana crop. Firefighting aircraft will reportedly drop Doritos downwind of the inferno.

Honestly, I think the owner had every right to kick out patrons who passed out pamphlets in his business. This is not a reverse Christian bakery incident.

I only manage to work up interest in watching soccer in the World Cup and the Olympics. The United States team amazingly failed to qualify for the World Cup and so now my interest is virtually nil. The American television station that won the rights to broadcast the World Cup here is probably trying to keep executives off the ledges. That the contributing Panama's win in another game was probably based on a missed shot mistakenly called a goal only adds to the debacle, really.

Ah Clinton World! Where nothing can harm you! "'I give 10 percent of my income to charity every year,' [Hillary] Clinton said. '[The money Harvey Weinstein donated to her] will be part of that. There’s no doubt about it.'" So Clinton will substitute money she would have donated anyway for the now-tainted money from accused serial rapist, sexual predator, and Democratic donor Weinstein. It's good to be a Clinton. Or at least convenient.

American and South Korean diplomats will talk before President Trump visits South Korea later this year, and Japan will join in talks after the bilateral meeting. Which would be helpful to hammer out what we and our allies will do about North Korea. I continue to think--based on a hunch and no more--that America is prepared to lead South Korea and Japan in an assault on North Korea's nuclear infrastructure in 2018 if the Chinese don't deal with North Korea (either with a land blockade, coup, or invasion). Of course, meetings would happen eventually without a crisis, so this is hardly the key "dot" to connect. As I say, just a hunch.

An appreciation of cause and effect has never been strong among the crusaders pushing the minimum wage well past what the market will bear.

We can't have a battlefield Internet if the Russians can hack it.

I have never understood why sensitivity requires us to call both male and female thespians "actors." What was wrong with "actor" and "actress?"

CNN and Democrats (but I repeat myself, of course) seem upset that Trump doesn't think FEMA stands for Federal Eternal Management Agency. Of course FEMA won't be on Puerto Rico (or Texas or Florida for that matter, but they don't have the history of mismanagement and some problems the fault of the federal government, of course) forever. How the statement of the bleeding obvious can be spun into controversy is beyond me. And I assume it was a shot across the bow in case anyone in Puerto Rico thinks that responding to the impact of corruption rather than the hurricanes is FEMA's job. There is zero chance that Trump will fail to help fellow Americans, non-state status notwithstanding, recover from the natural disaster. So dial the reaction back from 11. There were a lot of people whose brains turned to mush in opposition to President Obama (and you saw none of that here). I don't want to hear any more attitude from Democrats given how so many of their brains are turning to mush by turning the opposition dial to 11 over every damned thing Trump does or says.

FEMA will eventually leave Puerto Rico when the emergency is over; but the FBI should apparently set up shop there for a lot longer. I did note that rule of law is a problem there. Tip to Instapundit.

I swear liberals piss me off more and more each day. Mostly from their ridiculous "Resistance" to Trump that compels me to defend a man I really don't like much from the Left's really stupid opposition to every damned thing he does or says. I have a long history of not liking Trump--from back when he was a liberal Democrat--and he still does not thrill me, to say the least. But as the alternative to what could have been and what the Democrats are doing now? Yeah, even as is he is better. God help us all.

Is America practicing for war against North Korea? Well I should bloody well hope so under the circumstances. Whether we are preparing for war in the spring or summer if China doesn't deal with North Korea, or if we are just putting psychological pressure on North Korea (and China), we would be practicing for war. If there was no crisis at all, we'd be practicing for war at some level--that's what training is.

WHO says there is a low chance of the freaking plague spreading off of Madagascar island, but it's the freaking plague! Knowing whether I should worry is well outside my lane. But I'm worried. [I normally wouldn't link to Vox which is too political to trust. But even this subject seems safe from politicizing it.]

The Spanish government has pulled back from heavy-handed bad-optic responses to Catalan independence; and Catalans and the rest of Spain seem to be pulling back from the brink.

Egypt continues to battle jihadis in Sinai. Which is of interest to America given our military presence along the Egypt-Israel border to maintain the Camp David peace treaty.

I swear to God America had a giant "kick me" sign on our back during the Obama administration. Tell me this kind of abuse of our people no longer goes on.

Who knew the "war on women" had its secret weapon in the Democratic Party all along? Tip to Instapundit. Although don't count out Hollywood's power as the news media weighs in to look away from the rampant crimes in this Democratic constituency to focus on Republican "over-reach" to "exploit" the liberal crimes--the exact opposite of how the media treats a Republican problem.

So how likely is it that Facebook would have erased Russia-related data if it harmed Trump?

Taiwan will go to Plan B and update their M-60A3 tanks. Did we turn down Taiwan on getting surplus Abrams tanks because we need them to replace losses in war or because we don't want to offend China right now?  And nobody else who builds modern tanks will sell to Taiwan?

I don't pretend to like IPAs. I didn't know I was supposed to pretend I do.

What happened in Cuba with our diplomats (and some Canadian diplomats, too) is a mystery. The article focuses on a sonic weapon, but I can't imagine it being a weapon. If it isn't a mass hysteria (and perhaps the hearing loss of a minority of "victims" is completely unrelated, simply making it seem like a real thing), I think if it is man-made it would have to be an unintended side effect of some type of surveillance gear. And if that, I doubt it was Cuba given their vigorous protests of innocence.