Archive for 2022
March 5, 2022
BUT NO MEAN TWEETS: $5/Gallon Gas Is Coming, Experts Say.
Related: Nation’s Average Gas Prices Jump Over 20 Cents In Less Than a Week. “But don’t expect for the Biden administration to do anything soon to get those prices lowered. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told Fox Business more domestic drilling is not on the table.”
THAT’S A LOW BAR: Youngkin Doing a Better Job Than Biden, Virginians Say.
MICHAEL BARONE: Volodymyr Zelensky Transforms Germany — and Europe.
Each day, [Zelensky] has sent out videos of him speaking from the heart of Kyiv, proclaiming his determination to stay. His example has undoubtedly helped added to the spirited resistance of ordinary Ukrainians.
It has certainly transformed opinion in Europe and beyond. The contrast between Zelensky, on the street in a dark T-shirt and increasingly unshaven, contrasts vividly with the photographs of Putin sitting at the far end of an absurdly long conference table, far from a gaggle of nervous aides.
That contrast was undoubtedly apparent when Zelensky called in to a Zoom teleconference of European Union leaders last weekend. In his brief pitch for support, he reminded his counterparts, sitting securely in comfortable chairs in opulent offices, that this might be the last time they would see him alive.
The effect was galvanic on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Speaking to the Bundestag Saturday, he declared that “February 24 marks a turning point” (Zeitenwende in German) “in the history of our continent.” “It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in defending against Putin’s invading army. That is why we are delivering 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 #Stinger missiles to our friends in #Ukraine.”
That’s a stark reversal of policy. Before Russia’s attack, Germany had blocked Estonia from sending German-made weapons to Ukraine.
Scholz also announced that Germany would increase its defense spending from 1.4% of gross domestic product to the 2% required by NATO. Another stark reversal: His long-serving predecessor, Angela Merkel, had been keeping defense spending down — a stick in the eye of Donald Trump, perhaps — and said it couldn’t approach 2% for years.
To this transformation, the Biden administration has been a spectator. As I noted last week, its initial response to the Feb. 24 attack was desultory — a ban on U.S. investments in places where there aren’t many, while Germany responded only with a reversible suspension of certification of the undersea Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.
How much has Zelensky transformed Germany and Europe? This much:
IT’S THE DEMOGRAPHY, STUPID: Islam is the Only Winner in the Ukraine War.
(Classical reference in headline.)
DON’T GET COCKY: The Most Dangerous Lame Duck in History?
With a historically weak president in the White House, an unfavorable Senate map in 2024 and 2026, and a potentially huge Republican majority to overcome in the House, Democrats could potentially be out of power for several electoral cycles, increasing the urgency to pass their progressive agenda while they still can. Moreover, given their age and the growing opposition within the Democratic Party to older, white leaders, it’s highly unlikely that Pelosi, Schumer, or Biden will ever be in such a position of power again – further incentivizing a radical final act from the three.
While numerous pundits have written: 2022 is likely to be a brutal year for Joe Biden and Democrats.
Seriously, don’t get cocky. As Glenn has written, “If you want to win, donate and volunteer. Winning takes work, and commenting on Internet blogs, even this one, doesn’t count.”
JOHN O’SULLIVAN: When Western Governments Help Putin.
Former Democrat presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry, now President Biden’s special presidential envoy for climate, expressed his serious concern about the crisis, the people of Ukraine, democracy, the principles of international law at stake, and so on. He then went on:
But it [the war in Ukraine] could have a profound negative impact on the climate obviously. You have a war and obviously you’re going to have massive emissions consequences to the war. But equally importantly, you’re going to lose people’s focus, you’re going to lose certainly big country attention because they will be diverted and I think it could have a damaging impact.
He ended by hoping that President Putin would “help us to stay on track with respect to what we need to do for the climate.”
It’s not hard to poke fun at this as if Senator Kerry had made a foolish gaffe—which is probably what most people think. In reality Kerry’s words perfectly express what the West’s political elites have believed until recently and may still believe—that the long-term and uncertain risks of a temperature rise of 1.5 degrees above that of the early industrial period are an urgent threat to the West and the world at least as dangerous (and maybe more so) than Putin’s brutal murder of Ukraine and his assault on peace and international law. We therefore need to continue working with him, however distasteful or strategically unwise that may be. That belief now goes very deep into our societies—particularly among the higher-educated, both intelligentsia and lumpenintelligentsia.
Not to be outdone, the US is managing to help both Putin — and Iran: Pete Buttigieg slammed for saying ‘all options are on the table’ when asked about buying oil from Iran.
JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT IT: That doesn’t mean you have a “right” to something, even if you really, really desire it. Colson Center’s Shane Morris in the latest “What Would You Say?” video on HillFaith lays out some basic facts about rights and definitions.
HE’S RIGHT, OF COURSE:
March 4, 2022
OPEN THREAD: Helmut Kohl ist tot.
THE NEW SPACE RACE: Air Force Secretary: We’re worried about Russia but China is a bigger strategic threat. “China is the United States’ main competitor in space.”
Well, yes.
WHOSE KIDS ARE THEY, ANYWAY? WaPo Reporter Viciously Attacks Parents Concerned About Scholastics Book Fairs Promoting Radical Ideologies
HATE AT HASTINGS: Ilya Shapiro Is Shouted Down At U.C. Hastings. “Morris Ratner, the academic dean, warned the students that their disruption violated the code of conduct. But he then took no steps to actually enforce the code, and ensure that Ilya could speak. And students yelled at him with profanity.”
IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I HAVE MORE CALIBERS TO KEEP TRACK OF: First Look: Federal Premium .327 Fed. Mag. and .357 Mag. HST Ammunition.
NEWS YOU CAN USE: As 3G Rides Off into the Sunset, What Cars Are Affected?
DUMBEST STATEMENT OF THE YEAR? Iftin: Our Goal Should Be Global Gun Control To Disarm Tyrants Like Putin.
(HOMER VOICE): Dumbest statement of the year so far.
UPDATE (Charlie): Could be, but this is a strong candidate too.
DEAL OF THE DAY: TurboTax Deluxe 2021 Tax Software. #CommissionEarned
NATO RULES OUT UKRAINE NO-FLY ZONE: ‘PAINFUL DECISION.’ NATO secretary says no-fly zone ‘would end up with something that could end in a full-fledged war in Europe involving many more countries.’
“STOP THE WAR:” 44 Top Russian Chess Players Publish Open Letter to Putin.
WEIGHT TRAINING: Weight training may be best exercise to improve sleep.
I WOULD GLADLY TAKE SOME MEAN TWEETS: But No Mean Tweets: $5/Gallon Gas Is Coming, Experts Say.