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Mon., Feb. 11, 2019
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Daily Presidential Tracking Poll
Friday, February 08, 2019
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Trump’s job performance. Forty-nine percent (49%) disapprove.
The latest figures include 38% who Strongly Approve of the job Trump is doing and 41% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -3.
MLB Reportedly Nearing Significant Rule Changes on DH, Pitcher Usage
By Ross Kelly
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are discussing significant rule changes that could make the game much different from what fans are accustomed to, according to multiple reports.
Among those rule changes would be a three-batter minimum for pitchers.
That would help quicken the pace of play and avoid situations where specialists come in to face one or two batters before being replaced by another reliever.
The possible move to a three-batter minimum, first reported by The Athletic on Tuesday, would apply to all pitchers, including starters.
That would eliminate situations such as what happened in last season’s NL Championship Series, when Wade Miley of the Milwaukee Brewers started Game 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, threw five pitches to one batter and was then replaced.
According to the report, the rule would not apply in instances in which pitchers finish an inning or are injured while on the mound.
The Athletic reported MLB made the three-batter minimum proposal to the players union on Jan. 14 and the union “did not strongly oppose the idea,” according to sources. It did, however, suggest that the implementation be delayed until the 2020 season instead of 2019.
Also proposed by the union is a change that’s sure to be controversial with traditionalists: instituting the designated hitter in the National League.
The union reportedly is pushing for the universal DH rule to be in play for the 2019 season.
One person who would be in favor of that rule is Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer. The three-time Cy Young winner was injured while batting in 2015 and said that both the NL and AL should use the same rules.
“If you look at it from the macro side, who’d people rather see hit: Big Papi or me?” Scherzer told CBS Sports, referring to former Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz. “Who would people rather see, a real hitter hitting home runs or a pitcher swinging a wet newspaper? Both leagues need to be on the same set of rules.”
The union also suggested an idea that could essentially be called the “Kyler Murray Rule.”
In the wake of the Oklahoma Sooners Heisman winner potentially leaving baseball for the NFL after being a first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics, the union wants MLB to bring back the major league contract for players.
That contract is an enticement for two-sport athletes like Murray to stick with baseball instead of football. Currently, all draft contracts are minor league deals subject to a draft pool.
While Murray did get a $4.66 million signing bonus with the A’s, the proposed new rule would not place a cap on the amount offered to players in his situation.
Other proposals from both MLB and the union include:
• A single trade deadline before the All-Star break.
• Expansion of rosters to 26, with a 12-pitcher maximum.
• Draft advantages for winning teams and penalties for losing teams.
• A study to lower the mound.
• A 20-second pitch clock.
Even if no deal is reached between MLB and the union, Commissioner Rob Manfred has the power to enforce and implement the rule changes.
Democratic Senator Stands Up, Gives Trump a Wink During SOTU
sU.S. President Donald Trump, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence looking on, delivers the State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building on February 5, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Doug Mills-Pool / Getty Images)
West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin not only stood up, applauded and smiled when President Donald Trump touted booming American energy production, but he also gave the president a wink of approval.
Manchin was one of the only Democrats to stand when Trump said “the United States is now the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world.”
Manchin stood up in front of a group of female Democratic lawmakers who did not look thrilled.
Manchin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, has been supportive of Trump administration efforts to roll back restrictive energy policies, including on the coal industry.
Trump also mentioned that “for the first time in 65 years, we are a net exporter of energy.”
Indeed, Energy Department forecasters see the U.S. becoming “energy independent” in 2020 as exports and production boom.
Manchin’s standing ovation for Trump’s energy remarks stood out in stark contrast to the female Democratic lawmakers seated behind him who did not stand and cheer.
One of those lawmakers, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has positioned herself as a staunch opponent of fossil fuels and will release her “Green New Deal” legislation as soon as next week.
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Longtime Fox News Legal Analyst Dead at 67
By Evie Fordham
Fox News legal analyst Bob Massi passed away at the age of 67 in his Henderson, Nevada, home Wednesday morning after a battle with cancer, his family said.
Known to many as “The Property Man,” Massi was a real estate attorney and had his own show on Fox News and Fox Business.
He is survived by his wife Lynne, sons Dominic and Robert, his daughter Genna, two brothers, Albert and James, and six grandchildren, according to Fox News.
Massi’s roots with Fox News went all the way back to the channel’s early days in 1996.
He was proud to be the second legal analyst the channel hired, according to a write up by Fox News.
He covered trials of high-profile figures including Michael Jackson, the Unabomber, O.J. Simpson, Warren Jeffs and Casey Anthony.
His Fox colleagues posted on Twitter to remember him.
“Rest in Peace My Friend,” Fox Business host Charles Payne wrote on Twitter Wednesday.
Charles V Payne✔@cvpayne
Rest in Peace My Friend… Such a sad sad day. Bob excelled at a lot of things but mostly he was a stand up guy and a wonderful person. Thought and prayers to the Massi family and friends. 
JASON FEINBERG ✔@FeinbergFOX5
This is a very sad day. Lawyer and TV personality here on @FOX5Vegas Bob Massi has passed away. He was battling cancer. Bob was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met and worked with. RIP. And thoughts and prayers to his family
“Such a sad sad day. Bob excelled at a lot of things but mostly he was a stand up guy and a wonderful person. Thought and prayers to the Massi family and friends.”
“Shocked & deeply saddened by death of friend Bob Massi. He was one of the last cool cats. I’ll miss his talent & verve & gracious manner. Bob cared about everyone. Talented & knowledgeable, he was a great lawyer, terrific TV talent & caring man. So sorry Lynn, Dominic & Bob jr,” Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera wrote on Twitter Wednesday.
Gladys Knight’s Nat’l Anthem Was Incredible. But When the Camera Cut Away for 3 Seconds, That Stole the Show
BY C. DOUGLAS GOLDEN
You don’t get to be known as the “Empress of Soul” without delivering the goods the way Gladys Knight did at the Super Bowl in Atlanta on Sunday.
In a game that was very charitably described as a “defensive battle” between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams (when it was charitably described at all), the musical performances were actually the high points of the night.
This may have been a surprise in the case of halftime headliners Maroon 5, but when it came to Knight’s rendition of the national anthem, it was only a shock if you’d forgotten how amazing the “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer really was.
However, stealing the show was a group of heroes who were just on screen for three seconds during “The Star-Spangled Banner” — and who reminded us not what so proudly we hail so much as why we hail it.
The footage was of the men and women of the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, including soldiers from both the United States and the Republic of Korea.
It was a short clip, just long enough to show the soldiers standing at attention.
Stars and Stripes ✔@starsandstripes
About 100 soldiers stationed with the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, enjoyed a few seconds in the Super Bowl spotlight when they were featured in a live shot during the national anthem.https://www.stripes.com/super-bowl-honors-american-soldiers-serving-in-south-korea-1.567245
Super Bowl honors American soldiers serving in South Korea
However, a cheer went up from the crowd as the image of the soldiers flashed on the screen.
“It was an absolute honor to represent the country,” Maj. Jason Harrington, a Patriots fan hailing from Abington, Massachusetts, told Stars and Stripes.
“That three to five seconds that we had on national TV is special because it really highlights the efforts, the sacrifice … all those key buzzwords. It goes a long way.”
“It felt rewarding. It made me feel better about being away from my family,” 22-year-old Pvt. Searcy Storey, who was spending \
Given the time difference, the men and women watching at Camp Humphreys were actually watching on Super Bowl Monday, gathering in the pre-dawn hours.
“Many said they were motivated by the chance to be on TV as well as an offer of a day off in exchange for showing up,” Stars and Stripes noted.
Maj. Gen. Scott McKean, the division commander, also played a part in the pre-game coverage, appearing to ask CBS commentator Nate Burleson about the San Francisco 49ers’ chances next year.
“Nate, before you answer that, remember we got lots of tanks and helicopters over here so I just want to make sure you take that into your consideration,” he joked, to which Burleson responded, “Well, they’re going to win the Super Bowl since you put it like that.”
While similar coverage has obviously been given to the military during the big game, it’s the first time that the 2nd Infantry had been given the honors.
On social media before the game, the 2nd Infantry got some shoutouts for the honor:
A Soldier's Whisper@SoldiersWhisper
US ARMY'S 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION IN SOUTH KOREA WILL BE FEATURED DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM 
FOR SUPERBOWL! #SuperBowl2019 #SuperBowlSunday #ArmyStrong
And then there were some soldiers tweeting from Camp Humphreys, as well:
Overall, unless you were a fan one of the teams playing on Sunday, there probably wasn’t a lot to cheer for. (And, let’s face it — even though it was close until the end, you probably weren’t doing much cheering either if you were a Rams fan.)
Our men and women in uniform standing at attention in honor of the national anthem was certainly one of the things that everyone could cheer for. Gladys Knight was, too. Putting the two together was that much better.
It was another reminder that our troops are the reason we can sing the national anthem or have the Super Bowl — and the service and protection they provide didn’t go unnoticed inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Major Claims from Stacey Abrams’ SOTU Rebuttal Don’t Fair Well in Fact Check
By Fred Lucas
Stacey Abrams, the 2018 Democratic candidate for Georgia governor, gave the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union.
Abrams, who lost in November to Republican Brian Kemp, is viewed as a potential rising star in the Democratic party.
Here’s a look at a few of the facts she stated during her speech.
1. ‘Rigged’ Tax Bill
Abrams slammed the 2017 tax reform package, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which slashed corporate and individual tax rates.
“The Republican tax bill rigged the system against working people,” Abrams said in her response. “Rather than bringing back jobs, plants are closing, layoffs are looming and wages struggle to keep pace with the actual cost of living.”
She continued: “We owe more to the millions of everyday folks who keep our economy running: like truck drivers forced to buy their own rigs, farmers caught in a trade war, small business owners in search of capital, and domestic workers serving without labor protections.”
A July analysis by The Heritage Foundation found that the tax reform law cut taxes for middle-class Americans. The average taxpayer saw a tax cut of $1,400, and the average family with two children got a tax cut of $2,917. Further, Americans in every congressional district got a tax cut.
Further, labor force participation has increased because wage growth is causing Americans who previously dropped out of the job search to look for work.
2. Shutdown Was a Trump ‘Stunt’
“The shutdown was a stunt engineered by the president of the United States, one that defied every tenet of fairness and abandoned not just our people — but our values,” Abrams said.
However, both sides have blamed the other for the shutdown. The shutdown, which last more than month, hit 800,000 federal employees, but only affected 25 percent of the government.
Trump said on Dec. 11 during a televised meeting with House Speaker-in waiting Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer he would be “proud” to shutdown the government.
The Senate passed a spending measure to fund the government through February with no wall funding. But the House, still under Republican control, passed a bill with wall funding. The shutdown began on Dec. 22.
During one of the negotiating meetings at the White House on Jan. 9, Trump offered candy to Democratic leaders. Trump said he would reopen the government immediately if Democrats agreed to funding a border wall. Pelosi said, “no,” and Trump left the meeting.
On Jan. 19, Trump offered to extend temporary protection to illegal immigrants under the Obama-era Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program in exchange for a wall. Pelosi rejected the compromise.
On Jan. 25, Trump announced that he would sign a bill funding the government for three more weeks until a border security deal can be reached.
3. Voter Suppression
Abrams said she accepts her 2018 loss, but “cannot accept efforts to undermine our right to vote.”
She announced plans to start a new organization called “Fair Fight,” which she said would advocate for voting rights.
“Let’s be clear, voter suppression is real,” Abrams said. “From making it harder to register and stay on the rolls to moving and closing polling places to rejecting lawful ballots, we can no longer ignore these threats to democracy.”
To the degree voter suppression is real, it’s unclear how widespread it is.
During eight years of the Obama administration, the Justice Department brought just five cases related to race-based voter suppression under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, said Hans von Spakovsky, manager of the Election Law Reform Initiative at The Heritage Foundation.
What Democrats often mean by “voter suppression” is a reference to voter ID laws.
Separately, von Spakovsky in a previous Op-Ed for National Review noted that “nine of the eleven states that have implemented so-called strict ID Laws either saw an increase in turnout or exceeded the national average in turnout in 2016.”
Von Spakovsky added:
A University of Missouri study found that Indiana’s turnout increased 2 percent after its voter-ID law was implemented, with no negative impact on minority voters in particular, and increased turnout for Democrats as a whole. Yet another study, this one by the University of Delaware and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, found that at both the aggregate and individual levels, voter-ID laws did not affect turnout across racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic lines during the 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 elections.
The post Fact Checking 3 Claims Stacey Abrams Made in State of the Union Response appeared first on The Daily Signal.
What Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Could Learn from G.K. Chestert
Once in power, democratic socialists cease to be democratic.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Image courtesy of Wikipedia. Photo in public domain in US.
Chuck Chalberg
G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) and H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) were near contemporaries, but they were not kindred souls. One was an Englishman; the other an American. One was a Catholic Christian; the other a lifelong agnostic. One dubbed himself a distributist (as opposed to a capitalist or a socialist), while the other was an unabashed libertarian, who defended capitalism and abhorred socialism.
But when it came to a subject that is very much the rage today, thanks to individuals like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, Chesterton and Mencken were essentially on the same page. That subject was socialism, or rather, Democratic Socialism.
New Packaging, Same Concept
The problems with socialism should be obvious, given its historic failures. The problem with democratic socialism may be less obvious, but no less fatal. Once in power, democratic socialists cease to be democratic.
Perhaps today’s democratic socialists really are promoting nothing more than an enhanced, super-charged welfare state.
“Not so!” some say, while pointing to the governments of western Europe. “Not so,” I respond, while pointing out that members of the European Union are capitalist countries with large welfare state components. Of course, those components are slowly strangling these countries, but that’s a story for another day.
At issue here is socialism. Perhaps today’s democratic socialists, whether a youthful Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or an aged Bernie Sanders, really are promoting nothing more than an enhanced, super-charged welfare state. But since they prefer to call themselves democratic socialists, let’s take them at their word.
And then let’s take a look at what Mr. Chesterton and Mr. Mencken had to say about socialism at a time when the idea was just beginning to be all the rage. This was a time when the intellectual battle against socialism might have been more difficult to win, since its failures and tyrannies were yet to be revealed. Socialism as an idea is one thing; socialism as the subject of an autopsy is quite another.
That the idea of democratic socialism has today taken fire among some of those who claim to speak for the American worker is somewhat amazing, almost as amazing as the possible takeover of the Democratic party by democratic socialists. Given such a possibility, perhaps what Chesterton and Mencken had to say long ago bears recalling today.
Chesterton and Mencken on Socialism
Mencken had great fun at the expense of American politicians of all persuasions. But he had special fun and special disdain for socialists and socialism. For him, a socialist was someone with an “overwhelming compulsion to believe in that which was not true.”
But not to worry, wrote Mencken. American socialists had all “gone down the sewers” following World War I. Some had become chiropractors and others prohibitionists, while the rest had “gone in for Harding idealism, Texas oil stocks, or overnight cancer cures.”
But none of Mencken’s fun prevented him from making this serious point: “The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.” And “rule,” not govern, is the operative verb here.
Chesterton came to realize that socialists were mainly interested in power, “haughty, concentrated, over-reaching power.”
Chesterton shared Mencken’s concerns about both urges. Yet unlike Mencken, Chesterton conceded that, as a young man, he had been attracted to socialism because of its popularity. To not be a socialist meant that one was a “sneering snob forever complaining about the behavior of the working class.” Or worse yet, it meant that one was a “horrible Darwinian forever thundering that the weak must go to the wall.”
So, yes, there was a time when Chesterton was a socialist, so long as he could believe that “socialism meant protecting the weak.” What Chesterton came to realize as a full-fledged adult was that socialists were mainly interested in power, “haughty, concentrated, over-reaching power.” They sought to rule, not govern.
Sometime after his rejection of socialism Chesterton attended a lecture given by an unnamed “lady socialist.” In it, she uttered this sentence: “We must take care of other people’s children as if they were our own.” For Chesterton, this was the “precise formula for everything that is wrong with the world.” He supposed that it was possible to pay people well to take care of other people’s children. But he also realized they would not necessarily do a good job. If nothing else, boredom would set in. But he also noted that there would always be “two people who would never be bored by the antics of a child.” That would be the child’s parents.
Chesterton's Observation on the Bolsheviks
Lastly, he noted that those undemocratic socialists, the Bolsheviks of Soviet Russia, had come to realize two things about the family: 1) that it was a real institution; and 2) that there was no substitute for it. This realization did not make Chesterton a convert to Bolshevism. He knew it was an evil force, but one that would likely collapse of its own accord because it ran counter to the human nature to own a plot of land and a home of one’s own.
But once that urge to save humanity takes over, the urge to rule takes charge.
The collapse of the Soviet Union came much later than Chesterton had anticipated. It also came despite the best wishes of Bernie Sanders for the success of the Soviet experiment. That would be the same Bernie Sanders who honeymooned in the Soviet Union.
Of course, the Bolsheviks were not democratic socialists. And of course Bernie Sanders is not a Bolshevik. But once that urge to save humanity takes over, the urge to rule takes charge.
Bernie is likely too old to perceive this insight. But what about AOC and her fellow millennials? After all, if a youthful G. K. Chesterton could think and re-evaluate his idea socialism, maybe they can do the same.
This article was reprinted from Intellectual Takeout.
Chuck Chalberg
Dr. John C. “Chuck” Chalberg writes from Bloomington, Minnesota, and can be reached at chuck.chalberg@gmail.com
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