BABYLON BEE: “GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY DISINVITES JESUS FOR CAUSING DIVISION”: Yes, it’s satire. But for GCU, a conservative Christian institution, to disinvite Ben Shapiro was silly and cowardly.  (See also Glenn’s post below.)

ALL HAIL NORTON I, EMPEROR OF THE UNITED STATES, PROTECTOR OF MEXICO: On this day in 1818, Joshua Norton was born in Britain, before immigrating to South Africa at the age of two.  As a young adult, he left South Africa with a small inheritance and came to San Francisco.   There, he appeared for a while to be a reasonably successful, though perhaps slightly eccentric, businessman.

Unfortunately for Norton, one very bad investment—attempting to sell Peruvian rice to China–pushed him into bankruptcy. After that he was no longer slightly eccentric, but rather very eccentric.

How eccentric was that? In 1859, he proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States:

At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of San Francisco, California, declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these United States; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of February next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity.

— NORTON I., Emperor of the United States

San Franciscans liked the guy. He seemed harmless enough. He even had some good ideas–like building a bridge over the bay.  The newspapers routinely carried his proclamations. Merchants sold “Emperor Norton” souvenirs. He issued his own currency, which was honored by businesses he patronized. The whole thing was rather adorable.

Dressed in full military regalia, complete with a beaver hat decorated with a peacock feather, Norton was a frequent sight on San Francisco streets, where he was usually treated with respect (or at least indulgence). After all, what’s not to like about a guy who issues a proclamation abolishing Congress?

This went on for over 20 years. Then, in 1880, at the age of 61, Norton collapsed on the street and died. San Francisco was in mourning.

Of course, an Emperor’s funeral should be splendid.  And so Norton I’s was (despite the fact he was himself close to penniless). Members of a San Francisco businessmen’s association paid for a nice casket. And as many as 10,000 people lined the streets to pay their last respects to their beloved Emperor.  San Franciscans really liked the guy; it’s enough to make one really like San Francisco.

Alas, that was back when San Francisco had a sense of humor. These days too many San Franciscans believe or claim to believe that half their fellow Americans are “haters.” If they really believe that, it isn’t surprising that they don’t have much lighthearted fun anymore.  It’s got to be exhausting to have to carry the torch of virtue with so little help from one’s countrymen.

THE MYTH THAT THE SUPER BOWL IS A MAJOR OCCASION FOR CHILD PROSTITUTION (AND OTHER MISINFORMATION ABOUT “SEX TRAFFICKING”): There is something in the human soul that likes to be titillated by stories of inappropriate sex. As a result, we sometimes overestimate how much of it is going on. I wrote about how that tendency can get in the way of wise and effective public policy here.

IT WORKED WHEN I TRIED IT: On this day in 1920, Dr. Henry Heimlich, originator of the abdominal thrust technique called “the Heimlich Maneuver,” was born. This technique has likely saved many thousands from choking to death (though other techniques may work as well or better in particular circumstances).

Thirty some years ago, I had occasion to use it. A good friend of mine at the office was tossing hard candies into the air and catching them in his mouth. (This friend is really smart.  I don’t know what got into him that day.)  One got stuck in his windpipe … really stuck. He couldn’t even making choking noises; it was in there too well. My first instinct was to find somebody quickly who knew what to do. But then I realized, “Holy crap … this needs to done right now.”

It worked like a charm. I can do it. At least that time I did it. You can do it too.

I HADN’T THOUGHT OF THIS, BUT IT SOUNDS RIGHT TO ME:  Elizabeth Warren’s wealth tax may be an unconstitutional direct tax.

“WHERE ARE THE BLACK [LAW FIRM] PARTNERS?” ASKS THE AMERICAN LAWYER: But the real question should be “Where are the black lawyers?” The answer, alas, is that race-preferential admissions policies in law school are likely reducing rather than increasing their numbers. Ditto for physicians, scientists, engineers and college professors generally.

IT’S THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT JACKIE ROBINSON’S BIRTH:  Read his whole Wikipedia bio.  He was a bit of a conservative.

INTERN NATION: Why do so many recent college grads have to undergo the indignity of an unpaid internship (or several unpaid internships) before they can land a real paying job these days? Part of the answer lies here.

THE END OF SLAVERY IN SIGHT: On this day in 1865, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Constitution’s Thirteenth Amendment, prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude. Since the Senate had already approved the measure, the proposed Amendment was then placed before the state legislatures for ratification.  That came quickly. Within a week, 11 states had ratified, led by Lincoln’s Illinois. By December, the requisite ¾ of states had approved the measure.

Ratification beyond the ¾ of states was purely symbolic. But since the Thirteenth Amendment was more significant than most, some states ratified even though their assent was no longer needed. Among the stragglers were Delaware (1905) and Kentucky (1976), both of which had initially rejected it. The most recent ratification came from Mississippi in 1995. Better late than never.

BAMN, BAMN, BAMN: Remember when I told you about the Antifa group called the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action Integration & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (“BAMN”)? They’re down at the border near San Diego now. Same folks. Same crazy.

IF YOU KNOW A SMART CONSERVATIVE/LIBERTARIAN LAW STUDENT (OR A VERY SMART COLLEGE STUDENT):  … who would like to spend the summer interning for Commissioner Peter Kirsanow and me at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington for absolutely no pay, send him or her here.  Thanks.  We can use all the help we can get.

THE NOT-SO-FAMOUS ALBERT GALLATIN WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1761: On the south side of the Treasury Department Building in Washington stands a statue of the first Secretary of the Treasury—Alexander Hamilton. No surprise there: Hamilton has been viewed as an important figure for a long time, and these days he’s a sexy Broadway star too. At the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance, stands a likeness of the fourth Secretary—Albert Gallatin—a man who has been mostly forgotten. On more than one occasion, I’ve noticed tourists peering at the statue from the street and asking something like, “Who’s that? Why isn’t that Hamilton?” Poor Gallatin.

The two Secretaries had a lot in common—both were foreign born (Gallatin was Swiss, Hamilton was born in Nevis), both were orphaned at a young age, and both were financial whizzes at a time when financial sophistication was rare in the US.

When Jefferson became President he was convinced that Hamilton and his successors had been up to no good while in charge of the treasury and that Gallatin was the only man with the financial acumen needed to expose their wickedness. To Gallatin’s credit, after a thorough examination of the records, he explained to Jefferson that it wasn’t corruption that was the problem.

To Gallatin—who has been described by a biographer as having “a small-shopkeeper’s sense of integrity”—the real problem was the $83 million national debt still left over from the Revolution. He wanted to pay it down, but without imposing onerous internal taxes. During the Whiskey Rebellion, his sympathies had been with the western farmers, who were being taxed heavily.  On the other hand, he knew when debt was appropriate and worked hard to provide the financing for the Louisiana Purchase when opportunity unexpectedly knocked.  By 1812, he had whittled the debt down to $45 million, which was a significant accomplishment, especially considering that he’d nixed the whiskey and other direct, internal taxes. (Alas, it ballooned again on account of the War of 1812. War is like that).

UPDATE (FROM GLENN): Thanks to taking an, um, more sympathetic role in the Whiskey Rebellion, Gallatin produced a much freer United States in L. Neil Smith’s alt-history novel The Probability Broach.

DEAR PRINCE CHARMING:  Please leave Sleeping Beauty alone.  You’re nothing but a rapist. Or so says a Chapman University group.

THE MARKETING GENIUS BEHIND STARBUCKS’ “RACE TOGETHER” CAMPAIGN WANTS TO BE YOUR PRESIDENT: Democrats figure that if he runs it will take away votes from their candidate.

IT’S A GOOD THING I DON’T LIVE IN CHICAGO ANYMORE:  Brrrrrrrrrrrr.

CAN A NEW MODEL OF APPRENTICESHIPS SAVE CALIFORNIA?: Well … I’d be very happy if all 50 states could dramatically increase the number of opportunities for apprenticeships. There are certainly many skills that are better taught on the job than in the classroom, and there are many young people who prefer on-the-job learning to classroom learning. But it may be tougher to implement than some people realize.

NO.  AND BY THE WAY YOUR EMPIRICAL STUDIES ARE BOGUS: Was [the Department of Education’s decision to rescind] the school discipline guidance a mistake?

THE OLD DOMINION’S COLORING:  The once-red Commonwealth of Virginia has long since gone purple.  Hans Bader argues that a recent court ruling imposing a political gerrymander on voters will turn Virginia blue.

WILLIE BROWN ATTACKS HIS OLD GIRLFRIEND KAMALA HARRIS:  It’s going to be an interesting election.

THIS IS A REASON FOR PESSIMISM: It’s one thing to have a small number of people around the country who are totally out of their minds with hatred. It was ever thus. It’s another thing when they get elected to Congress, and the media write puff pieces about them.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT INCLUSIVENESS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT:  American University students complain that its “Hub for Organizing Multiculturalism and Equity” is too inclusive.

REPOST:  SUPER BOWL SEX TRAFFICKING: It’s that time of year again—when the Super Bowl host city starts assuring the public that it is doing everything possible to combat the expected explosion of sex crimes. It don’t really blame these cities for ramping up. If it were true that the Super Bowl brings with it the massive sexual exploitation of minors that would be very serious. But it is not true.  Nor is it true that ordinary adult prostitution increases to unusual levels.  The Super Bowl is mostly about … shock alert … a football game (and a few very expensive television ads).

A few years ago the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issued an overwrought report entitled “Sex Trafficking: A Gender-Based Violation of Civil Rights.” I wrote a 30-page Statement that was critical of the report. A few pages of it deal with the Super Bowl myth.  I also included a bit about the White Slavery Panic and about Filipina hostesses in Japan.

I reposted this with the links fixed.  Sorry about that.

I CAN’T SAY I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO 2020:  “Five reasons Kamala Harris is the Brand-New 2020 Democratic Frontrunner.“

WE LIVE IN RIDICULOUS TIMES:  Just ask Pickles.

ON ORDERS FROM ND PREZ: Notre Dame to cover murals of Christopher Columbus.