Image 01 Image 03
Sign In or RegisterLogout

December 2015

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 23, 2015 6 Comments
On Tuesday night, February 25, 2014, I stayed up late watching the live stream of the UCLA student council debate over an anti-Israel divestment resolution. It was one of many such resolutions on campuses at a time when groups like Students for Justice in Palestine were in an aggressive posture, particularly at UCLA. A guest author familiar with the UCLA campus scene wrote about the tactics being used against pro-Israel students, UCLA testing ground for next generation of anti-Israel campus tactics. At some point early in the morning the next day, I called it quits. Given the 3-hour time difference, it appeared the event would go on well into the early morning hours. I went to bed figuring I'd find out the result in the morning. Sometime around 9 a.m. on February 26, 2014, I logged onto the computer, went to the live stream, and it was still going on, and the vote was about to take place. I watched the divestment resolution go down to defeat:

Posted by Jonathan Levin on December 23, 2015 23 Comments
Professor David E. Bernstein has written a great last-minute Christmas present or belated Hanukkah gift. Lawless: The Obama Administration's Unprecedented Assault on the Constitution and the Rule of Law is sure to ruin the holiday for whoever reads it - Republicans because it confirms President Obama has run roughshod over Congress and the Constitution, and Democrats because it confirms what they have so long denied.  Which is why everybody should read it, digest it, debate it and institute changes to prevent future presidents of any party from doing such damage again. Bernstein teaches Constitutional Law, among other things, at George Mason University School of law, and his easy facility with technical, legalistic topics makes Lawless accessible and understandable without eliding over details. The picture Bernstein paints so adroitly is of an unprecedented and unlawful consolidation of power in the executive, and a president unrestrained by his own promises, by custom, by standards of legal ethics, by statute or by the Constitution.

Posted by Kemberlee Kaye on December 23, 2015 6 Comments
Callista Gingrich's fifth children's book is one you'll want to pick up. Ellis the adorable little elephant journeys through the past, stoping to explore the history of Christmas in America. Far from the watered-down historical fare, Christmas in America serves meaty historical events delicately enough to be palatable to youngsters, but rich enough for readers of any age. So enjoyable were some of the historical specifics, that I found myself geeking out, excited to reread a few of my favorite stories. If your American history knowledge has collected a little dust over the years, fear not. Christmas in America is equipped with a handy guide in the back of the book to bring you up to speed.

First, a bit about you:

Posted by Leslie Eastman on December 23, 2015 23 Comments
I was astonished that Hillary Clinton wept as she decried bullying, after Donald Trump's used of the word "schlong". A woman who is seeking the office of "Commander-in-Chief" should really show a little more intestinal fortitude. The act is laughable, because her own use of profanity is so notorious that there are whole books on the subject! A California friend, Bill Monroe, offers this example.
Hillary's vulgar and nasty language is well documented. To directly quote her: 'F**k off! It's enough that I have to see you ****-kickers every day, I'm not going to talk to you too!! Just do your G*damn job and keep your mouth shut.'

Posted by Mike LaChance on December 23, 2015 13 Comments
According to polling rules set forth by the FOX Business Network, the next Republican debate in January may reduce the number of candidates on stage by three. Ben Kamisar reports at The Hill:
Next GOP debate stage could shrink to six candidates As few as six candidates could make the next GOP presidential debate stage in January, as Fox Business Network's new criteria could drastically shrink the field less than a month before the Iowa caucuses. Fox Business Network announced three separate avenues to make the main stage, but those pathways are more restricted than in previous debates. Participants in the main stage debate on Jan. 14 must hit the top six in an average of five recent national polls, or top five in an average of recent polls from Iowa or New Hampshire...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 23, 2015 38 Comments
Washington Post cartoonist Ann Telnaes drew a cartoon showing Ted Cruz's children as monkeys dancing to his tune. The pretext was that the children appeared in a campaign ad. As if this is the first time children have appeared in a political context. There was a firestorm of controversy, and the cartoon was pulled: I have mixed feelings about the controversy. On the one hand, I'm against the culture of outrage that pervades campuses and increasingly the media. But I also understand why lines need to be drawn for candidates, particularly as to minor children.

Posted by Miriam Elman on December 23, 2015 9 Comments
In two recent posts (see here and here) we reported on the December 20 assassination of Lebanese Druze terrorist Samir Kuntar in Jaramana, a suburb of Damascus. As we highlighted, Kuntar received three life sentences for his role in a 1979 terrorist attack which brutally devastated an entire Israeli family. https://twitter.com/AviMayer/status/678564278195068928 Kuntar was caught at the scene of the attack after a shootout with police and was convicted of murder.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 23, 2015 62 Comments
Hillary lives with Bill Clinton. It's doubtful there is ANYTHING that could truly shock or dismay her when it comes to frat-boy-like behavior. Or sexual innuendo. Donald Trump said Hillary got "schlonged" in the 2008 election. Trump's explanation is that it means to be beaten badly: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/679506175239532545 Regardless, whether a slang word to be beaten badly, or a Yiddish term for a schlong, there is zero chance Hillary was actually offended or upset. Zero. SHE LIVES WITH BILL CLINTON. She has covered for Bill Clinton's sexual antics and went after his female victims. Yet Hillary got teary eyed when talking about campaign bullying later that same day, an obvious reference to Trump's comment.

Posted by Fuzzy Slippers on December 23, 2015 11 Comments
Whether it's an Overton Window effect, an example of Boyd's “OODA Loop," or something else, Ted Cruz is enjoying a surge in both state and national polls. According to the latest Quinnipiac poll, Cruz is now only four points behind the current Republican front-runner, Donald Trump. CNN reports:
Donald Trump's lead over Ted Cruz has shrunk to just 4 percentage points in the second national poll after last week's Republican debate. Trump wins 28% support in a Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday, with Cruz nipping at his heels with 24%. Following that pair is Marco Rubio with 12% support, Ben Carson with 10%, Chris Christie with 6% and Jeb Bush with 4%. The survey was in the field entirely after CNN's debate in Las Vegas on Dec. 15. Cruz has been steadily climbing and overtaking Trump in Iowa, and there is some evidence that the Texas senator is managing to perform similarly nationally.

Posted by Jonathan Levin on December 22, 2015 10 Comments
The Boycott, Divest & Sanction ("BDS") movement and the broader campaign to delegitimize Israel has had a tough few weeks.  In academia and industry, the boycott campaign has been exposed as potentially discriminatory and unlawful, and yet another panel of experts has affirmed that Israel's use of force against Hamas is not only legitimate, but exemplary. Law Professors Eugene Kontorovich and Steven Davidoff Solomon of the Northwestern University and University of California - Berkeley, respectively, make the case that boycotts by academic associations are unlawful.  As one might expect, academic associations each have a stated purpose, typically to collect, share, expand and advance knowledge in the relevant field.  Profs. Kontorovich and Davidoff explain that such associations cannot legally do anything other than pursue those stated purposes, and:
Boycott resolutions that are beyond the powers of an organization are void, and individual members can sue to have a court declare them invalid. The individuals serving on the boards of these organizations may be liable for damages. Consider the American Historical Association. Its constitution—a corporate charter—states that its purpose “shall be the promotion of historical studies” and the “broadening of historical knowledge among the general public.” There’s nothing in this charter that would authorize a boycott. And an anti-Israel boycott will do nothing to promote “historical studies” or broaden “historical knowledge.” A boycott by definition restricts study and research: The explanatory material attached to the [American Anthropological Association ("AAA")] resolution, for example, says it would restrict the organization from sharing scholarly journals with Israeli universities.

Posted by Kemberlee Kaye on December 22, 2015 10 Comments
Earlier this year, the Center for Medical Progress exposed Planned Parenthood's baby part harvesting racket to the public. A series of undercover videos showed Planned Parenthood officials haggling with investigators over the price of fetal tissues. Now Congress is looking into Planned Parenthood's fetal tissue trade. Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul announced Health and Human Services had opened an investigation into Planned Parenthood's use of fetal tissue.
Following the request initiated by U.S. Senator Rand Paul, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General (OIG) Daniel R. Levinson has opened an investigation, including a full audit into the compliance of HHS grantees with the fetal tissue regulations to determine whether there have been violations of the law and how the agency verifies compliance.

Posted by Andrew Branca on December 22, 2015 13 Comments
Various news agencies, including The New York Times, have reported today that there were no indictments issued by a Texas grand jury with respect to the in-custody death of Sand Bland. By all appearances, Bland had hanged herself in her cell. Bland was 28-years-old when she responded with anger and non-compliance after being lawfully pulled over in what should have been a routine traffic stop.  As a result she got herself arrested. As we wrote at the time in "Sandra Bland Arrest: Another Lesson in Non-Compliance," Bland's conduct was "a free lesson in how not to act during a traffic stop if you don’t want to get yourself arrested." Video of her conduct that triggered her arrest was captured on the patrol car's dash camera: The Grand Jury's decision to not indict apparently extends only to the circumstances around her death and the conduct of the jail staff.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 22, 2015 9 Comments
Hillary Clinton flat-out lied when she claimed during the Democratic Debate on December 19, 2015, that ISIS was showing videos of Donald Trump's immigration comments as a recruiting tool. Despite the lack of any proof of the video claim, Team Hillary is refusing to apologize, and instead has fallen back on the more general claim that Trump still is ISIS's best recruiting tool:
“He is becoming ISIS’s best recruiter,” she said. “They are going to people showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists.”… When asked if Mrs. Clinton would apologize, Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said, “Hell no. Hillary Clinton will not be apologizing to Donald Trump for correctly pointing out how his hateful rhetoric only helps ISIS recruit more terrorists.”
Really? One can disagree with Trump's comments AND acknowledge that Hillary lied and Team Clinton is distracting from Clinton's own failures as Secretary of State.

Posted by Mike LaChance on December 22, 2015 9 Comments
Recently in Nashville, a man decided to kick in the door of a house. Little did he know, the homeowner was at home and armed. Things didn't turn out well for the criminal. ABC News in Nashville reported:
Man shot after kicking in door to Madison home One man is in the hospital after being shot while attempting to break in a home. Police told News 2 that a man knocked on the door of a home in the 1700 block of Cumberland Station Blvd near Madison.
MORE POSTS
Accessibility by WAH