SNIPPETS

MAY 16,  2008

8:41 p.m.:  More tales of high security.  It is revealed that a former Afghan aircraft hijacker has been working as a cleaner at London's Heathrow Airport, with access to secure areas, although, it is claimed, not to planes.  (I wonder how hard it would be to get from a "secure area" to a plane?)  The man had been part of a nine-man hijack gang, and get this:  "The gang was jailed but later released and given the right to remain in Britain rent-free, receiving £150,000 a year in benefits."  Why work at all?   

4:51 p.m.:  Although the race for the Democratic nomination has essentially been decided, Hillary Clinton still runs remarkably close to Barack Obama in polls of Democrats.  Obama is up only an average of five points over Clinton.  This is a bitterly divided party.

4:29 p.m.:  I'll discuss this at greater length later on our main page, but Obama's speech today responding to President Bush's comments in Israel was another over-the-top adventure.  The public is now aware that Bush's remarks were routine, and Obama's apparent belief that they were directed at him appears childish.  There has been some leakage from the White House that they were actually directed at Jimmy Carter.  This leakafyin' is a political masterstroke, as it links Carter's name with Obama's, something Obama can't welcome.  Although, given some of his supporters...

6:56 a.m.:  A flight attendant has been arrested for trying to set a fire in an airliner in flight because he didn't like the route.  Look, it's the Obama era.  Don't be judgmental.  This could be a matter of culture.  Let's wait for the facts and understand that certain cultures just don't want to fly to certain places.  When we get real change on election day, this man will be given the route of his choice.   

6:38 a.m.:  According to a British study, obesity contributes to global warming because obese people require more fuel to transport them and the food they eat.  You know, everybody wants to get in on this global warming thing, but did it take a study to find out that transporting a 200-pound person takes more fuel than transporting a 150-pound person?  Is this the kind of science that goes into global-warming studies?  Better read the fine print. 

6:26 a.m. ET:  Quote of the day, thus far - Wesley Pruden in The Washington Times, on the wild response of Democrats to President Bush's speech in Israel in which the president outlined the dangers of negotiating with terrorists.  Pruden says, "How could anyone with even a Classic Comics understanding of history quarrel with that?"  Maybe the Dems didn't even get up to Classic Comics. 

MAY 15, 2008

4:41 p.m.:  The Seattle school system is abolishing its controversial Office of Equity, Race and Learning Support after some PR missteps.  Among the problems, the office put out a web page claiming that planning for the future, emphasizing individualism and defining standard English were examples of cultural racism.  It also sent 20 kids to a three-day "white privilege" conference.  And it put out some holiday cheer stating that "'Thanksgiving' is a bitter reminder of 500 years of betrayal returned for friendship."  Yeah, I'd abolish that office.  What took so long?

1:08 p.m.:  Time has a reasonably well-balanced report on McCain's health, but you wonder about the motivation.  There have been so many hit pieces on McCain from the MSM that it's amazing he's still going.  By the way, where are the stories about Obama's health?  Is he perfect?  Godlike?  Immortal?  The McCain story has some notes about psychiatric evaluations of the senator.  How about the same for Obama?  What would a good psychiatrist think about a man who says that "we're the ones we've been waiting for."  Inquiring minds want to know.

8:11 a.m.:  Oh, this is just great:  "Armed security agents posing as terrorists broke into a secure area at a nuclear weapons laboratory during a recent test, exposing flaws in the protection of stockpiles of plutonium and uranium coveted by terrorist groups and rogue nations seeking to become nuclear powers."  The lab is Lawrence Livermore, one of the most critical.  A spokesman for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said the results of the test were "disappointing."  Sleep well tonight.

6:32 a.m.:  Quote of the day thus far, from Cal Thomas:  "Growing numbers of atmospheric scientists and others with related expertise are emerging from the global warming cult and testifying to their conversions. They are mostly ignored by the media and by politicians who have embraced the cultists' doctrines."  True, which is why it was sad to see John McCain, in an attempt to woo moderates, throw in his lot with the Church of the Warmer Globe.  This will all look silly in about ten years.

6:17 a.m.:  Sean Penn, who I understand works in the movies, has expressed profound skepticism about Barack Obama.  This may be the end for Obama.  Penn says that Obama has a “phenomenally inhuman and unconstitutional” voting record.  He goes on to say:  ”I hope that he will understand, if he is the nominee, the degree of disillusionment that will happen if he doesn't become a greater man than he will ever be,” Penn said. “This is the most important election, certainly in my lifetime, and maybe ever.”  Yeah, Sean, more important than 1860.  A lot heavier than 1940.  Right.  And by the way, how can someone "become a greater man than he will ever be"?  Urgent Agenda may offer a cash award to anyone who can figure this out.

 4:19 a.m.:  Harvard University has been refunding a token portion (one dollar) of the student health fee to those students who raise a moral objection to abortion.  Sounds reasonable to me, as the objection is often based on religious scruples.  Of course, there are objections, some of them over the top:  “'It’s dangerous and incredibly scary for special interests to dictate the health needs of the Harvard community' said the president of Students for Choice."  I love the way opponents of abortion are referred to as a "special interest," like an oil company or the record industry.

4:03 a.m.:  General Electric is thinking of selling its home-appliance business, the division that makes refrigerators and washers.  This strikes me as a classic, short-sighted move.  GE has, for a century, been a household name.  The company owes much of its status to its role in the American home.  Eliminate that and you eliminate a certain mystique that cannot be replaced.  Some innovation, please.  Don't become another GM, whose dullness and contempt for the customer led it to where it is today.   

3:51 a.m. ET:  It is now reliably reported that Senator Barack Obama is wearing an American-flag lapel pin more and more.  I am moved by the sincerity of the gesture, which has nothing to do with politics.  I expect soon to hear the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. singing "America the Beautiful."  Recordings available at modest prices.