Tolerance, Free Speech + Diversity Are Casualties In Education

Educational Puppet Pelted With Crayons ,,,The Onion

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The examples of intolerance on our nation's campuses---from lower grades to universities---are countless.  Interesting considering the crybabies in many institutions of lower and higher education are obsessed with so called "microaggressions" or what they perceive to be discrimination, subtle or overt, against members of a marginalized group (e.g. ethnic, race, sexual or political).  And while discrimination against anyone is unacceptable, it apparently doesn't apply to conservatives.

During the Bush administration, we witnessed this conspicuous discrimination against then Secretary of State Condi Rice.  The university faculty did not want her to speak.  She decided not too.  Keep in mind, she was the first African-American to hold that post in government.  The same type of protests occurred against conservatives like Ann Coulter, David Horowitz and many others.

I bring this to your attention because of the most recent incident of intolerance and attack on free speech. 

Ted Cruz was scheduled to speak to a Charter School in the Bronx this week.  The school's largely minority population urged the principal to cancel the event.  Students, according to a report in the NY Post today said Cruz was "misogynistic, homophobic and racist."  The CEO of the Charter School agreed with the students.  In addition, public school unions were going to protest his appearance.  The irony is that both Cruz and his wife support charter schools.  In fact, Heidi Cruz serves on a board of a charter school in Texas. In addition, Ted Cruz donated his salary to that school during the government shutdown three years ago.

Rebel Diaz, a protester, said of Cruz he's a "right-wing bigot and is not welcomed here." The irony of course is that progressives have no problem with inviting intolerant, anti-American, anti-Christian and anti-Semitic speakers and representatives to speak on their campuses.

American institutions of education were once thought to be bastions of free speech, tolerance and diversity.  In too many schools today, it's just the opposite.  And progressives reinforce this warped ideology.

Only One Person Can Take Trump Down---That's The Donald

BREAKING NEWS:  After the disastrous 2016 elections, what remains of the GOPe and DNCe will combine to form a new party called the DOPeS ...Walter Cronkite's Tweet (parody)
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Several weeks ago, I posted a piece entitled: "There Are No Angels In Politics."  Almost every political campaign in history proves this observation to be accurate.  The current campaign is no exception.  In many elections, the electorate is often left with a candidate who does not meet all of their criteria but they vote for the individual anyway---on many occasiosn while holding their noses.

It appears we voters are facing the same dilemma during this campaign on both sides of the political isle.  In my opinion, the Democrats have two toxic candidates from which to choose. Republicans are left with only two--Trump and Cruz (Kasich has only one hope and that's to believe he'll be selected at a contested convention. In fact, he  still has less delegates than Rubio who bowed out three weeks ago).

While Ted Cruz appears to be getting some traction,  Donald Trump still holds the delegate count lead.  Unfortunately for Trump, he's made some serious stumbles in the last few weeks that might actually hurt him (I know. Pundits have been predicting his downfall for the last 6 months.  They've all be wrong).

I believe the only obstacle to Trump getting the nomination (excluding the math) is Donald Trump himself.  As I wite this, Cruz leads Trump in Wisconsin by about 10 points. Trump is currently leading in NY State. But he has a more serious problem. Namely, his unfavorable ratings in many polls range from 60-65. In addition, if the election were held today,  Trump awould lose to Hillary Clinton (Qunnipiac Poll). Among women voters,  he doesn't do much better.  According to a CNN/ ORC polling,  73% of women polled held a negative view of Trump.  With Republican women he's not doing much better with almost 50% indicating they would not vote for him.

As I pointed out in a posting several months ago {"Trump's Appeal Should Surprise No One"}, it was clear his appeal was specific to his focus on illegal immigration, trade and the fact that many Republicans have grown tired of the Republican establishment (actually, most Americans have been disappointed with the political class in general. Strangely, that's also why Sanders is so appealing especially to younger voters).

Peggy Noonan recently wrote this: "...Rather than attempt to win over, he doubles down. In the process, he shows that what occupies his mind isn't big issues, significant questions or the position of the little guy, but subjects that are small, petty, unworthy."  I believe Noonan makes some valid observations. But, ironically, those are some of the aspects of his behavior many of his supporters find attractive. However, we're only in the primary season. The question is whether these will hold up in the national election. If he's poll numbers continue to show high unfavorability ratings among women and other voters (e.g. Hispanics, Blacks, etc.), I doubt they will.

The future is becoming more clear.  If Trump keeps tripping over his own two feet, he'll only have himself to blame.


 

Islamist Apologist Meet Capt. Obvious

"We win. They lose."  ...Ronald Reagan when asked by his national security adviser to state his {Reagan's} strategy against the Soviet Union
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Unfortunately today's global leadership hasn't taken Reagan's advice when it comes to defeating radical Islamists.  The Obama administration certainly hasn't.  This is an administration that even refuses to define our enemy.

Even more disturbing is the feckless posture of the global community in confronting the widespread tentacles these barbaric savages have spread in just more than a decade. For example, since 9/11/01, there have been over 28,000 deadly terrorist attacks.  In just the past month alone, 21 attacks have taken place resulting in 187 killed and 386 injured in 10 countries. This data also includes 8 suicide attacks. (Source: The Religion of Peace).

As I mentioned in my last post, one reason is the warped and often dangerous ideology of political correctness.  Brussels learned that hard lesson last week.  As the New York Post pointed out so well: "Belgium thought it was a 'good' nation---coddling radical Muslims and downplaying its own Democratic values. But when immigrants aren't pushed to be citizens, aren't told they must respect the nation's values, they become the enemy within."  In other words, immigrants (legal and illegal) have been allowed to build a state within a state. This can be seen throughout Europe in what are commonly referred to as "No Go Zones."  In short, these are Muslim dominated communities that are generally off-limits to non-Muslims. (Note: There has been some disagreement among observers whether these areas should be referred to as "No Go Zones." Most countries in which these areas thrive contend they have not given up their sovereignty to these segregated communities. Nevertheless, however they are defined, they do pose problems to many European countries).   Muslims create these segregated communities rather than integrating into the culture and society of the nation in which they live.  Even more disturbing, many of these communities become breeding grounds for radical Islamists.  To be fair, many communities---even in the United States---have their own form of "No Go Zones" when it comes to the plethora of street gangs that infect local communities.  The difference is even the gangs generally assimilate as have immigrant communities in the past.  However, as indicated earlier,  Europe has allowed states to be created within states. To borrow a phrase from Amir Taheri, this often results in a "world of illusions and false identities."

Ralph Peters described it best: "American Muslims are yet  another of our nation's success stories...We get genuine immigrants seeking their American dream. Europe gets fanatical colonizers...Don't think there's a difference? Check out Brussels.

Or have a chat with Capt. Obvious.

Postscript:   And now Orlando even though the Obama administration refuses to admit it.

It's Not Bad Optics; It's Bad Leadership

Today Pres. Obama arrives from his Latin vacation & tour. He'll need several days rest before he can even think about resuming golf...WH Press Secretary Tweet (satire)
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Have you noticed a typical response by the media when it comes to Mr. Obama's bad leadership?  Most define it as only "bad optics." We watched this phenomena unfold in the last week alone.  After the bombings in Brussels where Americans also were murdered, Obama spent a whopping 51 seconds of his press conference on the Islamist terror attack. He followed that with attendance at a baseball game to be followed by dancing away the evening.

That behavior is not new. His distorted reality is not new.  After James Foley was beheaded on video,  Almost immediately following  Foley's murder, Obama was on the golf course. Some in the media referred to it as a simple "gaffe."

The day after four brave and honorable Americans died in Benghazi, Mr. Obama attended  yet another one of his fundraiser. He left it up to his  administration to spread the lies and deceit about the reason for the attack.

After the attack in Paris last November, Obama described it as a "setback."  In fact, even as Eric Holder was in Paris for a summit on terrorism, he nor anything other American representative attend the post terror rallies for the victims. Germany, Israel and other countries sent representatives.

Even after one of the most serious Islamist terror attacks in San Bernadino late last year,  Obama's first response was to jump on the gun-control band wagon.

But these examples and more should surprise no one.  It was Leon Panetta, Obama's former Secretary of Defense, who wrote about Obama  he "avoids the battle, complains and misses opportunities. " (From Panetta's book, "Worthy Fights.").  Even Robert Gates, also a former Secretary of Defense under Obama, wrote in his book, "Duty" that Obama doesn't believe in his own strategy and doesn't consider the war to be his." No wonder Obama once said he has no strategy to fight ISIS. He said that almost 2 years ago.

As Michael Goodwin of the NY Post observed recently: "After each atrocity, Obama acts weirdly detached..."  One correction: It's not "weird." It's calculated. It's bad leadership.

Brussels, Paris, London, ect. The Consequences Of Genuflecting To Political Correctness

Obama is currently on his international tour rewarding bad behavior...WH Press Secretary Tweet (parody)
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I've often written that it takes more courage to be politically incorrect.  Unfortunately. most of the European Union has not heeded that advice.  Instead they've chosen to genuflect to political correctness.  Like Pres. Obama, most don't even utter the words: "Islamist Terrorism" or "Radical Islam."  Instead, we hear meaningless words and phrases as "militants" or just "terrorists."

It's been clear now for decades that Islamists are at war with the West.  No rational person can come to any other conclusion.  But what have we heard in the last several years?  Al-Qaida is on the run. ISIS is a JV team.  We will degrade ISIS.  We will destroy ISIS. And even those proclamations degenerated into "ISIS is a manageable problem."  Tell that to the victims of Brussels, of Paris, of London and of countless other regions that have been attacked by Islamist terrorists.

As I wrote over one year ago,  the promise of "Never Again" has morphed into "Over And Over Again."  We've seen this throughout the Middle East, Africa, Europe and even on our own soil.  In fact, it wasn't until last week that the Obama administration admitted there's been a genocide against Christians.  Even as Boko Haram slaughtered Christians throughout Nigeria for years,  much of the West and the press refused to admit it's been Christians who have largely been targets of their terrorism.

It also should surprise no one that Americans want a gunslinger as president not a bystander---not someone who only leads from behind.  For when an American president leads from behind, we witness tragic and horrific consequences like those in Brussels today. When we see a president erase his red lines, we watch as those red lines become soaked in blood.  Syria today is a classic example.

We're also watching as unvetted immigrants and migrants pose a serious security threat to our nations.  Europe particularly has experienced these threats and terror in the last decade. So has America.

We're facing an enemy that can be taken out. Most of the targets of ISIS have been soft targets. They attack innocent and usually unarmed civilians.  It's way beyond time for the West to unleash hell upon these homicidal savages.  They are an enemy of humanity.

This enemy can be destroyed.  We just need our leadership to understand it's time to take out the garbage and destroy it forever.  It's time to become politically incorrect. It's time to be courageous.

The Cuba Visit Symbolizes Progressives Fondness For The Devil

"We could learn a lesson from Cuba on how to run an economy." Obama said as he donned a raincoat from 1955."...WH Press Secretary Tweet (satire)
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The image of Obama in Cuba reminded me of Madeline Albright, former Secretary of State under Bill Clinton. In her diplomatic trip to North Korea to visit dictator Kim Jong II in 2000, she toasted the monster with a glass of champagne.  Even the left-leaning Washington Post wrote at the time: "...We were amazed that the Secretary of State would allow herself to be photographed, smiling, as 100,000 essentially enslaved laborers performed for her and one of the world's most repressive dictators. Secretary Albright clinked champagne glasses with Mr. Kim..."

Well, today, we've learned how well that diplomacy turned out.  And then there's the Obama administration's biggest clusterfu#k,  the Iran Deal.  Is it any wonder then why so many are not hailing Obama's trip to Cuba this week?  One fact has always been clear: Dictators cannot be trusted EVER. And anyone who does trust one of these repressive dictators is naïve and stupid. But that would be letting them off too easy. Everything these progressives do is calculated. And when it comes to Cuba, they like wearing their Che T shirts.  So let's take a moment to look at some facts:

• Cuba today harbors at least 4 American domestic terrorists responsible for the murder of  17 police officers and well over 100 bombings.  One of those, Joanne Chesimard, formally of the Black Liberation Army, murdered NJ State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973. She escaped from prison and Fidel Castro granted her asylum in Cuba in the early 1980's.
• Cuba has imprisoned thousands of "political" prisoners and journalists.
• The Cuban people have to live on rationed beans and rice.
• The entire country and its infrastructure suffers from decay and neglect. (Kinda like many US cities governed by progressives).
• Cuba has no free press. In fact, Cubans do not even have access to the Internet.
• The country suffers from rampant poverty. But the ruling class lives relatively well.

You get the picture. In fact, it reminds me of the many times I used to visit Eastern Europe when under the boot of Communism.  People had to wait in lines for an entire day to get a small piece of meat---if any was  left.  Shopping at a men's store and the only available suits on the racks were brown, size 48. Millions living in what we commonly call in America projects---gray, cold 5-10 story apartment buildings that all looked alike. But even life in Eastern Europe then was a tad better than in Cuba. One was able to purchase a vehicle built after 1958.

Having said all this, I hope things turn around for the Cuban people. There's always promise even under repressive regimes. And, like most people, I'm sure every Cuban can't wait to break out of that repression. After all,  thousands have tried---many died--attempting  to cross the 90 mile stretch of ocean to America.

Progressives And Their Penchant For Masochism

"It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled...Mark Twain
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In the past, I've written several posts about New York City under the tenure of its current mayor, Bill de Blasio.  I predicted he would plunge NYC into progressive hell.  It appears I was right.

I chose to write about NYC rather than some of the other American cities run by progressives. For one, I know the city well. I was raised in Manhattan and the South Bronx. In addition, even after leaving the city, I still had relatives there. I visited often over the years. I also witnessed the transformations of the city under progressive mayors and those who were conservative.  It's undeniable the city fared better under conservative leadership. Former Mayor Giuliani is the prime example.

But cities like NYC require our attention. It's usually cities (and, yes, states too) that lead the way with some specific initiatives.  Some of these become national issues.  Examples include those having to do with energy, the environment, health care and personal safety.  The examples are countless. Many are good but many are also bad. The imposition of burdensome taxes comes immediately to mind.

The question I often ask myself---knowing the implications and the outcomes of cities under progressive rule----is: Why do so many voters vote for progressives politicians realizing  full well the consequences will be dreadful?  Allow me to revisit NYC again after two years under Mayor de Blasio:

• Two weeks ago, it was reported the morale of the NYPD is in the toilet.  Of 6000 officers (of approximately 25,000 total), on a scale of 1-10, the average rating of morale was 2.49. In fact, approximately 87% of the NYPD said the city is now "less safe." It's so bad that almost 90% of the officers said they would leave the NYPD if offered a better job in law enforcement. (NY Post)
• Slashing and stabbings are up 20% this year. (NYPD crime stats).
• The number of weapons in the city's schools surged by 25%.  (Families for Excellent Schools and the NYPD)
• The number of violent incidents in the schools shot up 23% last year. (Ditto reference above).
• NYC City Council is working on a bill to allow illegal immigrants to vote in elections for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president and City Council. It's estimated over 500,000 illegal immigrants reside in the city.
• Under de Blasio, NYC is now a "sanctuary" city.
• In a recent Quinnipiac University Poll, 53% of NYC residents said the quality of life has deteriorated. Only 14% reported it was better.  In the same poll, 59% disapproved of the job de Blasio is doing. 61% disapprove of his handling of poverty and homelessness.
• Last January,  de Blasio reappointed three judges that outraged the public. One of those judges freed a defendant accused of threatening to kill police officers immediately after two NYPD officers had been ambushed and executed.
• Last February,  NYC City Council announced that 700,000 outstanding warrants for low-level crimes such as public urination, disorderly conduct and public drinking.  Police point out when these people commit lower-level crimes and are caught, the police find many with outstanding warrants and/or illegal weapons. In addition, some of these people caught committing quality of life crimes can lead to solving other more serious crimes.  As one police officer noted: "Is it a big deal if a person takes up two seats on a train?...No, but it is if he pees on it."

After all of this and more (it would take several pages to list the nonsense perpetuated under Mayor De Blasio),  one can only arrive at this conclusion:  Progressives have a penchant for masochism.

Note: It would be unfair for me to blame all New Yorkers considering de Blasio won his race for mayor with the support of 73% of only 21% of the electorate.  In other words, it appears only progressives showed up to vote for him and decided to have the other New Yorkers share in their misery.