Monday, February 8, 2016

Millennials Heed the Siren Call of Socialism

Yup.

They're sold.

From Joel Kotkin, at the O.C. Register:
The biggest story this election season is not Donald Trump or the fortunes of the two winners in Iowa, the unattractive tag team of Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton. For all their attempts to seem current and contemporary, these candidates – and Trump as well – represent older, more established elements in American life, such as evangelicals, nativists and, in Hillary’s case, the ranks of middle-age women, seniors and public-sector unions.

The biggest and most important development has been the massive support among the new generation of voters for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and his open embrace of socialism. In Iowa’s Democratic caucuses, which ended with Clinton and Sanders in a virtual tie, young people opted for Sanders at an almost inconceivable rate of 84-14. In 2008, Barack Obama won this segment, claiming only a 57 percent majority.

So we are seeing the embrace of an openly socialist septuagenarian by a generation that, within a decade, will dominate our electorate and outnumber baby boomers as soon as 2020. That should put more conventional politicians, and business, on notice. Whether you are a Republican, a free-marketer or, even a Democratic-leaning crony capitalist, be afraid – be very afraid...
Well, this story hasn't escaped my notice, obviously, heh.

Like I've said a number of times, roughly half of Democrats these days identify as socialist, not just have a positive opinion of it. We're seeing a massive shift in ideological orientation, and it's much higher among Millennials.

Remember from the other day, "Reverend Franklin Graham: 'This is the most important election in my lifetime...' (VIDEO"?

We really are at a turning point. Folks always say this election's the most important on in their lifetime, but 2016 seems like the last chance to turn things around before it's too late. It won't matter if regular people vote after that. The country they've always known will be long gone.

But keep reading, if you're not too disgusted already.

Polls Show Donald Trump Holding Double-Digit Lead in New Hampshire (VIDEO)

Following-up from yesterday, "Donald Trump Moves to 22-Point Lead Over Marco Rubio in New Hampshire Tracking Poll."

Here's the last entry in the UMass Lowell New Hampshire tracking poll, "Trump-34 Rubio-13 Cruz-13 Kasich-10 Bush-10... #NHPrimary LVs..."

And watch, at CBS News This Morning:



I'm making no predictions. Too many voters are undecided up there, and I thought enthusiasm would push Trump over the line in the Hawkeye State. No can do, it turns out.

So, we'll see about New Hampshire tomorrow. We'll see.

Marco Rubio's Going to Keep Saying 'Barack Obama Knows Exactly What He's Doing...' (VIDEO)

Rubio's hammering this message, doubling- and tripling-down despite the harsh reaction he's gotten from all quarters.

Watch, at ABC News, "Marco Rubio Faces Fallout from GOP Debate."

Distracted Drivers Putting the Public's Safety at Risk (VIDEO)

Via CBS News 2 Los Angeles:


Spokeswoman Karen Finney Won't Disavow Misogynist Comments by Hillary Clinton Surrogates Albright, Steinem (VIDEO)

Watch, via Free Beacon, "Clinton Spokeswoman Won't Disavow Misogynist Remarks by Steinem, Albright."

And ICYMI, "Gloria Steinem Apologized for Comments She Made About Young Women on 'Real Time with Bill Maher' (VIDEO)."

Ammon Bundy Issues 'Call to Action' from Jail: 'Arm Yourself with Ideas...' (VIDEO)

Here's the latest, at the Portland Oregonian, "Oregon standoff Day 38: What you need to know Monday."

And watch:


Expect updates...

California Issued 605,000 New Driver's Licenses to Illegal Immigrants in 2015

Flashback to January 3, 2015, "Illegal Aliens Begin Getting Driver's Licenses in California."

Well, the state sure went to town issuing licenses to illegals.

At the Los Angeles Times, "California issued 605,000 new driver's licenses for immigrants in the U.S. illegally last year":
Judith Benitez had gone most of her adult life without knowing how to drive.

The 35-year-old woman from Mexico who is in the U.S. illegally would ask family members for rides to pick up her children from school. Trips to the grocery store or the doctor's office were complicated.

That changed last year when Assembly Bill 60 was implemented, granting people in the country illegally the right to obtain driver's licenses in California. Benitez, who lives in Lemon Grove, learned to drive and was among those in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles the day the law took effect.

"Truthfully, it was an extremely emotional time because having a [driver's] license isn't just any little thing," she said. "We feel a little more protected."

An estimated 605,000 licenses were issued under the law last year, accounting for nearly half of all new licenses, according to the California DMV. Nearly 400,000 of the licenses were issued during the first six months.

"We believe that this new law increases safety on California roads by putting licensed drivers behind the steering wheel," spokesman Artemio Armenta said.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed the measure into law in 2013, further establishing California as a national leader on immigrant rights. The legislation was authored by Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Salinas), the son of farmworkers.

Brown in August signed a trio of immigration-related measures, which included elimination of the word "alien" within California's labor code to describe immigrants in the country illegally. The new laws also included allowing noncitizen high school students to serve as election poll workers and protecting immigrant minors in civil lawsuits.

Licenses granted under the law have "federal limits apply" printed on them, which means that unlike California law enforcement, law enforcement officers in other states and federal officials aren't obligated to accept the licenses as a valid form of identification.

State leaders and law enforcement officials have said the law will improve road safety because more drivers will be licensed and be more likely to be insured...
And people wonder why Donald Trump's campaign took off last year. It's not "racism." Sometimes it looks like government does more to help people who're here illegally that it does for its own citizens.

That's sad.

More.

Peyton Manning's Mom Wants Him to Retire

A great story.

From Sam Farmer, at the Los Angeles Times, "Peyton Manning caps his career with second Super Bowl title, and his mom says it's time to retire."

Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton Walks Out of Press Conference After Loss in #SB50 (VIDEO)

Not too classy.

At the Newark Star-Ledger, "WATCH: Panthers' Cam Newton refuses to answer questions, storms out after Super Bowl loss to Broncos":


SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton just gave his critics all the ammunition they need.

Already under fire for how he conducts himself on the field, Newton went silent after his team's 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Super Bowl 50, sulking at the podium and essentially refusing to answer questions.

The press conference came to an abrupt ending when Newton got up and left, at the same time a Broncos player was overheard loudly saying how the Denver defense wanted to force Newton to throw the ball.

The press conference was very similar to the ones Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch had during last year's Super Bowl, when he was clear in saying (by not saying anything) that he didn't want to be there...
Obviously, there's loads of commentary on this, and probably will be for a long time. Newton needs to grow up, and fast.

In any case, at the New York Post, "Cam Newton now must face a sickening reality ."

Wade Phillips Earns First Super Bowl Title

Heh, folks on Twitter were asking if the defensive coordinator could win the MVP.

At CBS News 4 Denver.

Gloria Steinem Apologized for Comments She Made About Young Women on 'Real Time with Bill Maher' (VIDEO)

I don't know.

It's not just Steinem. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made some fairly offensive comments at a campaign rally for Hillary Clinton the other day as well. See the New York Times, "Gloria Steinem and Madeleine Albright Scold Young Women Backing Bernie Sanders." There's video of Albright at that link.

And from CNN yesterday:



ADDED: From Ann Althouse, "'There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other!" said Madeleine Albright":
Do Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton believe in torturing their political enemies? That's what Hell is. Eternal torture. Maybe you think it's just a big joke or no one could take it literally. Well, if you don't believe in the religion that other people cling to, just leave it alone.
Word.

Hillary Clinton Campaigns in New Hampshire Ahead of Tuesday's Primary (VIDEO)

The latest Franklin Pierce-Boston Herald poll has Bernie Sanders leading Clinton 51-to-44 percent, a seven-point lead. See, "Franklin Pierce-Herald poll: Clinton, Sanders just 7 points apart."

That seems kind of off to me. Sanders has a 13.2 percent lead in the RCP average as of Saturday. Maybe the Pierce-Herald poll's an outlier. Either that, or nobody knows what the hell is going to happen up there. The polls on the Democrat side have been all over the place.

In any case, watch, via WMUR News 9 Manchester:



Sunday, February 7, 2016

Amber Lee's Monday Forecast

It was 86 degrees today when I went for a salsa run around 2:30pm. (I had to run back out for salsa after making a major beer run a little earlier, heh.).

And it's going to be hot like that tomorrow.


Panthers Cornerback Josh Norman Congratulated Peyton Manning as He Walked Off the Field (VIDEO)

That was really nice. Very sportsmanlike.

Watch, "Peyton Manning Congratulated Walking off the Field."

And on Twitter:



PREVIOUSLY: "Denver Broncos' Dominating Defense Defeats Carolina Panthers in #SB50."

Denver Broncos' Dominating Defense Defeats Carolina Panthers in #SB50

Honestly, I thought Cam Newton was going to make the Broncos look like old ladies, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Man, the Broncos defense seriously shut them down. It's was just staggering.

At the Los Angeles Times, "Broncos rely on defense to beat Panthers in Super Bowl 50":

Peyton Manning triumphantly completed what could be his final season with a Super Bowl title.

The Hall of Fame-bound quarterback can thank the Denver Broncos defense for making it possible.

Linebacker Von Miller on Sunday led an onslaught that threw NFL most valuable player Cam Newton off his game and gave the Broncos a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.

Miller, voted the game’s most valuable player, forced two fumbles, one that defensive end Malik Jackson recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, C.J. Anderson rushed for a touchdown and Brandon McManus kicked three field goals as the Broncos won the Super Bowl for the first time since winning consecutive titles in the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

The victory gave Manning his second championship in four Super Bowl appearances. The Broncos finished with a record of 15-4. They are now 3-5 in Super Bowl games.

Broncos Coach Gary Kubiak, a longtime Broncos backup to legendary quarterback John Elway, won the title in his first season. Elway won his first title as the franchise’s general manager.

The Broncos sacked Newton seven times. Miller had 2 1/2 sacks and linebacker DeMarcus Ware had two.

Manning completed 13 of 23 passes for 141 yards, with an interception.

Newton completed 18 of 41 passes for 265 yards, with an interception and two fumbles. The Panthers finished the season with a record of 17-2.

The Broncos led, 13-7, at halftime and benefited from some good luck early in the third quarter...
Keep reading.

Donald Trump Moves to 22-Point Lead Over Marco Rubio in New Hampshire Tracking Poll

Following-up from yesterday, "Donald Trump Stays Steady at 21-Points Ahead of Marco Rubio in New Hampshire Tracking Poll."

It wouldn't have caught any shifts from last night's debate, although I don't think Trump hurt himself. If anything, Rubio's numbers should tank a bit before Tuesday, and maybe some of the governors will move up.

Via UMass Lowell:


Marco Rubio Responds to Debate Debacle on 'This Week' (VIDEO)

Following-up from last night, "Marco Rubio Was Flummoxed, Speechless After New Hampshire's #GOPDebate," and "WATCH: Chris Christie Pummels Marco Rubio During New Hampshire's Crucial #GOPDebate (VIDEO)."

At ABC News:



Heh. 'Bern Your Enthusiasm' (VIDEO)

I had to watch last night. And it was good.

Via SNL:


If Bernie Sanders Loses, His Supporters May Bail Out Come November

Yeah, because Bernie's cool, and Hillary's the non-motivational candidate. Or, well, she'll motivate voters to skip the general election if she's the nominee — or vote for Donald Trump!

At the Los Angeles Times, "If Bernie Sanders loses, his backers may not be there for Hillary Clinton in November":

Gio Vanecchia is so enamored of Bernie Sanders that he made a five-hour drive with his wife and infant son from South Jersey on Saturday morning to catch a glimpse of the progressive firebrand.

But what if Sanders loses the Democratic nomination? Asked whether he will be there to vote for the Democrat in November should Sanders falter, the 34-year-old union mechanic reacts as if the question is insane. There is not a chance, he insists, that he would ever support Hillary Clinton.

“She’s establishment,” Vanecchia said. “Most of the guys I work with think she’s a criminal.”

Usually, that sort of primary-season hostility means little when the general election rolls around. Even after bitter battles, voters generally coalesce around the goal of beating the opposing party.

But Sanders voters are a unique lot, and Clinton campaign strategists are growing concerned about whether they will be there for her should she be the Democratic pick.

This is not a group that is particularly loyal to the Democratic Party. While liberal Democrats make up a big chunk of Sanders’ support, many other backers are independents. Some mistrust the party so much that Sanders supporters booed the party chair when she took the stage Friday night at a dinner at which the candidates spoke.

Vanecchia’s second choice for president is Donald Trump.

Before a single ballot has been cast here, Clinton is already reaching out to the voters she knows will be deciding against her in Tuesday’s primary, particularly the younger ones, who so far are showing her campaign little love.

At a rally in Manchester on Friday, Clinton had a message for New Hampshire’s young voters: “I know you may not be for me now, but I am for you,” she said. She made the same gesture Saturday at a town hall at New England College in Henniker, an event her campaign advertised on the “Students for Sanders” Reddit page.

But even such olive branches turn off some Sanders voters...
Keep reading.

Cars Fall Through the Ice at Lake Geneva's Winterfest (VIDEO)

At Fox News 6 Milwaukee, via Memeorandum, "“Unbelievable:” 15 vehicles fall through ice at Lake Geneva's Winterfest."

And at WISN News 12 Milwaukee:



More on YouTube, "Michele Fiore Reports From Lake Geneva Winterfest."