BloggeRhythms

Yesterday, Alan Dershowitz @FoxNews.com wrote about Obama’s “hypocrisy on Brexit.” 

Mr. Dershowitz began: “In an op-ed, Obama came down squarely on the side of Britain remaining in the European Union – a decision I tend to agree with on its merits.  But he was much criticized by the British media and British politicians for intruding into a debate about the future of Europe and Britain’s role in it.  

“Obama defended his actions by suggesting that in a democracy, friends should be able to speak their minds, even when they are visiting another country: “If one of our best friends is in an organization that enhances their influence and enhances their power and enhances their economy, then I want them to stay in. Or at least I want to be able to tell them ‘I think this makes you guys bigger players.'" 

“Nor did he stop at merely giving the British voters unsolicited advice, he also issued a not so veiled threat.  He said that “The UK is going to be in the back of the queue” on trade agreements if they exit the EU.” 

After setting the stage, Mr. Dershowitz suggested that, “President Obama must either have a short memory or must adhere to Emerson’s dictum that “foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”  Recall how outraged the same President Obama was when the prime minister of a friendly country, Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke his mind about the Iran Deal.”  

After explaining the differences in the two situations, Brexit and Israel/Iran, Mr. Dershowitz acknowledged that “Israel has a far greater stake in the Iran deal than the United States has in whatever decision the British voters make about Brexit: and second, Benjamin Netanyahu was representing the nearly unanimous view of his countrymen, whereas there is no evidence that Americans favor or oppose Brexit in large numbers.  

“Another difference, of course, is that Obama was invited to speak by Cameron, whereas, Netanyahu was essentially disinvited by Obama. But under our tripartite system of government, that fact is monumentally irrelevant. Netanyahu was invited by a co-equal branch of the government, namely Congress, which has equal authority over foreign policy with the president and equal authority to invite a friendly leader."

All of which led Mr.Dershowitz to conclude quite correctly: “The President owes the American people, and Benjamin Netanyahu, an explanation for his apparent hypocrisy and inconsistency.   Let there be one rule that covers all friends – not one for those with whom you agree and another for those with whom you disagree.  For me the better rule is open dialogue among friends on all issues of mutual importance.  Under this rule, which President Obama now seems to accept, he should have welcomed Prime Minister Netanyahu’s advocacy before Congress, instead of condemning it.” 

As happens often, a reader, vtercell, offered a succinct analysis: “I know very little of internal British politics, but I do understand that if Obama is for something the wise and prudent course is to be against it. “ 

And then, in item from Thomson/Reuters @newsmax.com: “Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump attacked his top Democratic rival Hillary Clinton on Friday, calling her "crooked," and promised his supporters that he would not bore them by becoming overly presidential.” 

In this case, this windbag in ill-fitting clothes is obviously unaware that he’s already been boring for more than 30 years by now. And being “presidential” won’t make him an iota more exciting than watching paint dry.

And then, a quick note for all the Democrat legislators celebrating the minimum wage raise to $15.00/hr.

An article by Aya Takada @bloomberg.com, addresses a problem in Japan where an aging population of farmers has caused development of robots and driver-less tractors to replace them. 

Now, the problem facing Japan isn’t rising, unaffordable wages for workers. However, the solution produces the exact same result. A mechanized replacement for personnel.   

According to Mr. Tadaka, “Japan plans to spend 4 billion yen ($36 million) in the year through March to promote farm automation and help develop 20 different types of robots, including one that separates over-ripe peaches when harvesting. 

“There are no other options for farmers but to rely on technologies developed by companies if they want to raise productivity while they are graying,” said Makiko Tsugata, senior analyst at Mizuho Securities Co. in Tokyo. “The government should help them adopt new technologies.” 

So, while these protestors are marching with their placards demanding $15.00 minimums for their hourly labor, there’s a Japanese word they ought to be rehearsing: Sayonara. Because that’s what they’ll all soon be saying to their jobs. 

Which brings us to today’s update on Bill Clinton’s wife. 

Graham Moomaw writes in the Richmond Times-Dispatch: “Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order Friday restoring the voting rights of 206,000 ex-felons, a sweeping action the governor said was aimed largely at rectifying Virginia’s “long and sad history” of suppressing African-American voting power. 

“The governor’s order applies to all violent and nonviolent felons who had finished their sentence and supervised release as of Friday, even those who have not applied for a restoration of rights. Previous Virginia governors have restored rights on an individual basis, but none has done it for an entire category of offenders with one pen stroke.” 

Interesting to note is that the former businessman and now 72nd Governor of Virginia, served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, from 2001 to 2005. He was also co-chairman of Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign, and chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. 

Naturally, Bill’s wife “praised the move on Twitter, saying: “Proud of my friend (Terry McAuliffe) for continuing to break down barriers to voting.” 

It’s also fitting that “violent and nonviolent felons “ can now join the cadre of crooks of all types who already support her. Including herself, referred to here yesterday in a quote from Peggy Noonan who feared that the presidential campaign would come down to a choice between a “Crazy Man versus Criminal.”

Thus, as the blatant criminality of this family continues, the ongoing question needs raising again: Joe Biden, Mayor Bloomberg, Jerry Brown, and Starbuck’s chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz, are reading this. 

That’s it for today folks.    

Adios