On February 7, 1990, the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party agreed to give up its monopoly on power, thus ushering the way for the dissolution of the putatively communist empire.
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Soviets Give Up
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Ben Shapiro
I am not a big fan of politicians becoming celebrities, because it seems to me that our politicians are there to do a job. . . . I think that politicians should be treated basically like DMV workers except with more scorn.
Ben Shapiro, The Ben Shapiro Show, February 6, 2017.
“Paul,” an old boss of mine used to say, “there are no set prices.”
He meant that when a vendor said it would cost x, my choice wasn’t just yes or no. Negotiate. I could say, “Boy, I’d sure like that, but golly, I can’t afford to pay x. Any chance you’d consider 4/5ths of x?”
It was amazing how often I bought what was priced at x for less than x.*
Consider government waste — from the Pentagon’s $400 hammers to millions in cost overruns for weapons systems. Politicians pay lip service to getting waste under control, but actually do something about it?
Yeah, right.
That’s why I took notice last December when then President-Elect Trump tweeted “Cancel order!” in response to the high price of a future Air Force One from Boeing. Then, Trump sent Lockheed stock down 3 percent with another tweet:
Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!
“Mr. Trump . . . would like to squeeze Lockheed for a better deal . . .” the New York Times explained, adding that Trump had “sent shock waves through the military industry.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut, where the F-35’s engines are manufactured, responded, “The suggestion that costs are out of control is just plain wrong.”
Well, last week, CNN reported that, “Defense giant Lockheed Martin has agreed to sell 90 new F-35 fighter jets to the US Defense Department . . . a deal that amounts to more than $700 million in savings over the last batch of aircraft delivered.”
There are no set prices.
This is Common Sense. I’m skinflint Paul Jacob.
* Even when a vendor wouldn’t budge on price, I could always call back a day later and say I’d finagled a way to afford it. Even then, the message that cost mattered likely started any future negotiations from a better position.
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James Fenimore Cooper
The column of society must have its capital as well as its base. It is only perfect while each part is entire, and discharges its proper duty.
James Fenimore Cooper, The Chainbearer; Or, The Littlepage Manuscripts, 1845.
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Aaron Burr and Ronald Reagan
On February 6, 1778, the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce were signed by the United States and France, signaling official recognition of the new republic. Exactly a decade later, the State of Massachusetts became the sixth in the union to ratify the new United States Constitution.
February 6 marks the birthdays of Aaron Burr (1756 – 1836), third Vice President of the United States and infamous Weehauken duelist, and Ronald Reagan (1911 – 2004) 40th President of the United States.
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Townhall: Mob Violence and Its Defenders
The Bishop Berkeley (1685 – 1783) famously advanced strange notions about the nature of ideas and existence . . . and proof of the latter on the grounds of the former.
This weekend’s column has nothing to do with that. It is about the Berkeley anti-Milo riots. And free speech taken as “violence” and violence regarded as “free speech.” Which is weirder than Bishop Berkeley’s philosophical idealism, come to think of it.
Anyway, no metaphysics by Paul Jacob at Townhall this weekend. Just common sense. Click here to view. Come back for citations:
- CNN: Robert Reich suggests conservatives beat themselves up
- Ben Shapiro: On Milo Yiannopoulos Berkeley Riot
- Heatstreet: The Left Celebrates Anti-Milo Yiannopoulos Violence at Berkeley
- MILO: White Nationalism Is NOT The Answer
- KTVU-TV: Organizer calls for more militant protests
- LIFe: BAMN Logic
- BAMN: Official website
- Antifa bludgeoning somebody to unconsciousness outside Milo event
- Sargon of Akkad: Antifa and the Black Bloc Explained
- Chicago Tribune: “Leftist mobs silence foes at Berkeley,” by John Kass
- NYT: Anarchists Respond to Trump’s Inauguration, by Any Means Necessary
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Sir Robert Peel
On February 5, 1788, Robert Peel was born. He would become one of the most important of the United Kingdom’s prime ministers, ushering in some reforms that led to the liberalization of England in the 19th century. He is regarded as the father of the modern British police — the popular term “bobbies” refers to “Bob” Peel — and as one of the founders of the modern Conservative Party. Robert Peel died in 1850.
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Milo Y / Anti-Milo Why-Nots
Berkeley, home to the Free Speech movement in the “olden days,” was home this week to violence and mayhem that “successfully” blocked the free and peaceful exchange of ideas.
As you consider how a free people should respond, here are various voices from the scene of the crime.
First, a former Clinton Era “economist” offers a number of judgments without any facts to back them up. Indeed, he spreads a rumor that conflicts with everything we know about the blackshirt thugs of Antifa and similar far-left “anarchist” groups:
http://youtu.be/K977LL87rd8
And if you want more of this loopiness, with even more outrageous comments shifting blame away from the actual perpetrators of the violence and onto Trump and others, watch the full CNN talking heads panel. If you dare!
Next, a young “By Any Means Necessary” (BAMN) member explains the “peaceful” nature of her movement:
You judge her logic. Her excuse-making. Her more-than-implied threats.
This young woman, and the illustrious Robert Reich, are not alone on the left in defending the violence and the suppression of free speech. Consider the long list of “celebs.”
Finally, mull over the actual words of the man Robert Reich calls a “hateful, odious” “right-wing character” (and whom others call “racist” and “homophobic” and even a gay “Nazi”):
This video has been bleeped to omit vulgarity; click here for the pristine (vulgar tongue) version, if you wish.
There are many greatly varying opinions about Milo Yiannopoulos. This is but one video wherein he very earnestly states his views. We welcome you to use the COMMENTS section to post any videos or links that you think folks should consider in making their own judgments about the man. Likewise, please leave links to additional information about speech-squelching activities by those on the political Left or Right or Center.
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James Fenimore Cooper
The capital error is becoming prevalent, which holds the pernicious doctrine that this is a government of men, instead of one of principles. Whenever this error shall so far come to a head as to get to be paramount in action, the well-disposed may sit down and mourn over, not only the liberties of their country, but over its justice and its morals, even should men be nominally so free as to do just what they please.
James Fenimore Cooper, The Chainbearer; Or, The Littlepage Manuscripts, 1845.
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First President
On February 4, 1789, George Washington was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States, under the new Constitution, by the U.S. Electoral College.
On the same date five years later, the French legislature abolished slavery throughout all territories of the French Republic.