powerlineblog--2020-08-27--About That Kenosha Shooter

About That Kenosha Shooter

Let ’ s stipulate starting out that Kyle Rittenhouse , the 17-year-old from Antioch , Illinois , who has been arrested and charged with murder for shooting two people during the Kenosha riots two nights ago , should not have been present at the scene with a semi-auto rifle .
That ’ s no place for a 17-year-old , even if he is a regular at the gun range .
And resorting to vigilantism is a sure path to a breakdown in the rule of law and perhaps even open civil war .
We ’ ll hold off a recitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point for some other time , as well as scoring the appalling negligence of Democratic political leaders in Wisconsin .
That said , there appears to be a decent case that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense .
Who says this ?
Sit down for the answer : a team of reporters from the New York Times .
I ’ m starting to think someone from Fox News has spiked the water at the Times , as this story makes two sensible news stories in one day from the Times .
Or maybe the panic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here are key excerpts from the story , “ Tracking the Suspect in the Fatal Kenosha Shootings , ” in which Times reporters stitch together a timeline from several videos , and with my highlights : In most of the footage The Times has reviewed from before the shootings , Mr. Rittenhouse is around this area .
He also offers medical assistance to protesters .
About 15 minutes before the first shooting , police officers drive past Mr. Rittenhouse , and the other armed civilians who claim to be protecting the dealership , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Rittenhouse walks up to a police vehicle carrying his rifle and talks with the officers .
He eventually leaves the dealership and is barred by the police from returning .
Six minutes later footage shows Mr. Rittenhouse being chased by an unknown group of people into the parking lot of another dealership several blocks away .
While Mr. Rittenhouse is being pursued by the group , an unknown gunman fires into the air , though it ’ s unclear why .
The weapon ’ s muzzle flash appears in footage filmed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sound of gunfire as another pursuer lunges toward him from the same direction .
Mr. Rittenhouse then fires four times , and appears to shoot the man in the head .
.
.
As Mr. Rittenhouse is running , he trips and falls to the ground .
He fires four shots as three people rush toward him .
One person appears to be hit in the chest and falls to the ground .
Another , who is carrying a handgun , is hit in the arm and runs away .
Mr. Rittenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sound of at least 16 other gunshots that ring out during this time .
As this happens , police vehicles just one block away remain stationary during the gunfire .
Mr. Rittenhouse walks with his hands up toward the police vehicles .
Bystanders call out to the officers that he had just shot people .
The police drive by him without stopping , on their way to assist the victims .
The left is making a big deal about the supposed “ white privilege ” of Rittenhouse because the police initially drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands up .
But as this story makes clear , the police were heading to aid victims , which is surely sound police procedure , not yet knowing that Rittenhouse was the shooter .

Let’s stipulate starting out that Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, who has been arrested and charged with murder for shooting two people during the Kenosha riots two nights ago, should not have been present at the scene with a semi-auto rifle. That’s no place for a 17-year-old, even if he is a regular at the gun range. And resorting to vigilantism is a sure path to a breakdown in the rule of law and perhaps even open civil war. We’ll hold off a recitation of Lincoln’ Lyceum Address on this point for some other time, as well as scoring the appalling negligence of Democratic political leaders in Wisconsin.
That said, there appears to be a decent case that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense. Who says this? Sit down for the answer: a team of reporters from the New York Times. I’m starting to think someone from Fox News has spiked the water at the Times, as this story makes two sensible news stories in one day from the Times. Or maybe the panic is that high at DNC headquarters.
Here are key excerpts from the story, “Tracking the Suspect in the Fatal Kenosha Shootings,” in which Times reporters stitch together a timeline from several videos, and with my highlights:
In most of the footage The Times has reviewed from before the shootings, Mr. Rittenhouse is around this area. He also offers medical assistance to protesters. About 15 minutes before the first shooting, police officers drive past Mr. Rittenhouse, and the other armed civilians who claim to be protecting the dealership, and offer water out of appreciation. Mr. Rittenhouse walks up to a police vehicle carrying his rifle and talks with the officers. He eventually leaves the dealership and is barred by the police from returning. Six minutes later footage shows Mr. Rittenhouse being chased by an unknown group of people into the parking lot of another dealership several blocks away. While Mr. Rittenhouse is being pursued by the group, an unknown gunman fires into the air, though it’s unclear why. The weapon’s muzzle flash appears in footage filmed at the scene. Mr. Rittenhouse turns toward the sound of gunfire as another pursuer lunges toward him from the same direction. Mr. Rittenhouse then fires four times, and appears to shoot the man in the head. . . As Mr. Rittenhouse is running, he trips and falls to the ground. He fires four shots as three people rush toward him. One person appears to be hit in the chest and falls to the ground. Another, who is carrying a handgun, is hit in the arm and runs away. Mr. Rittenhouse’s gunfire is mixed in with the sound of at least 16 other gunshots that ring out during this time. As this happens, police vehicles just one block away remain stationary during the gunfire. Mr. Rittenhouse walks with his hands up toward the police vehicles. Bystanders call out to the officers that he had just shot people. The police drive by him without stopping, on their way to assist the victims.
The left is making a big deal about the supposed “white privilege” of Rittenhouse because the police initially drove past him even though he had his hands up. But as this story makes clear, the police were heading to aid victims, which is surely sound police procedure, not yet knowing that Rittenhouse was the shooter.


powerlineblog--2020-08-31--Riots and Joe Biden’s Joe Isuzu Problem

Riots and Joe Biden’s Joe Isuzu Problem

Anybody remember the 1980s Isuzu auto TV pitchman “ Joe Isuzu ” ?
Wikipedia recalls him as “ a pathological liar who made outrageous and overinflated claims about Isuzu ’ s cars , ” which describes a lot of Joe Biden ’ s boasts about himself .
Beyond just Biden , I think the whole Democratic Party has a “ Joe Isuzu problem ” when it comes to talking sensibly about the urban disorder exploding ( literally ) all over the country .
Does it seem like Democrats are deaf-mutes when it comes to speaking clearly against the rioting going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Democratic National Convention two weeks ago .
But in fact Joe Biden has made statements against the riots , such as this one back in July : Today Biden is spinning furiously to catch up with the curve , saying “ Rioting is not protesting .
Looting is not protesting .
Setting fires is not protesting.
” He added , “ You know me .
You know my heart .
You know my story , my family story .
Ask yourself , do I look like a radical socialist with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The problem is no one really believes Biden and the Democrats are sincere in their criticism of rioters .
Because they aren ’ t .
Deep down they can ’ t square their sympathy for the “ root grievances ” of protesters and rioters with the political necessity of being credible in fighting against rioting , which would mean Portland and Seattle , for starters , would sweep the streets and not let people go hours later with no bail .
( It would also help if Democrats , including some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hadn ’ t contributed to fund drives to bail out protesters and rioters in the few places where bail is being set . )
Ultimately this connects to the contempt most liberal Democrats have for the country , and have had for a long time .
We keep hearing from the left that Trump is “ shredding political norms , ” but who is it who wants to abolish the Senate and the electoral college , repeal the 2nd Amendment , tinker with the First Amendment to allow censorship of “ hate speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and admit DC and Puerto Rico as states just to add four more Democrats to the Senate ?
And that ’ s before you ask for any Democrat to make a criticism of the 1619 Project .
I ’ m not aware of a single one yet who has done so .
But remember : Trump ’ s tweets are mean !
This has a long history .
People think the “ Blame America First Democrats ” was an invention of Jeanne Kirkpatrick in 1984 , but it goes back much further than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urban rioting in the 1960s , Hubert Humphrey remarked that had he lived in a ghetto he could have led a pretty good riot himself—a remark he later came to regret and tried to walk back .
In 1971 Walter Mondale remarked that “ The sickening truth is that this country is rapidly coming to resemble South Africa.
” Shirley MacLaine said in 1972 that “ Right now the social soul of America is so sick that even the overthrow of a political regime may be insufficient.
” I can go on with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians , leading journalists , and , naturally , academics .
In other words , what we ’ re seeing today is the essential DNA of the modern Democratic Party coming to the fore amidst a crisis , and a lot of voters can perceive this clearly , which is why the polls are tightening .
In fact , even Hollywood gets this .
Just recall this 20-second scene from an early episode of The Simpsons , which appeared back when George H.W .
Bush was president : Come to think of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running mate for Joe Isuzu .

Anybody remember the 1980s Isuzu auto TV pitchman “Joe Isuzu”? Wikipedia recalls him as “a pathological liar who made outrageous and overinflated claims about Isuzu’s cars,” which describes a lot of Joe Biden’s boasts about himself. Beyond just Biden, I think the whole Democratic Party has a “Joe Isuzu problem” when it comes to talking sensibly about the urban disorder exploding (literally) all over the country.
Does it seem like Democrats are deaf-mutes when it comes to speaking clearly against the rioting going on right now? It went unmentioned during the Democratic National Convention two weeks ago. But in fact Joe Biden has made statements against the riots, such as this one back in July:
“Anyone who burns or pillages… should be arrested. They are a problem for society and they make a mockery of what the march is all about. They should be tried, arrested and put in jail.”
Today Biden is spinning furiously to catch up with the curve, saying “Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting.” He added, “You know me. You know my heart. You know my story, my family story. Ask yourself, do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters? Really?”
The problem is no one really believes Biden and the Democrats are sincere in their criticism of rioters. Because they aren’t. Deep down they can’t square their sympathy for the “root grievances” of protesters and rioters with the political necessity of being credible in fighting against rioting, which would mean Portland and Seattle, for starters, would sweep the streets and not let people go hours later with no bail. (It would also help if Democrats, including some of Kamala Harris’s staff apparently, hadn’t contributed to fund drives to bail out protesters and rioters in the few places where bail is being set.)
Ultimately this connects to the contempt most liberal Democrats have for the country, and have had for a long time. We keep hearing from the left that Trump is “shredding political norms,” but who is it who wants to abolish the Senate and the electoral college, repeal the 2nd Amendment, tinker with the First Amendment to allow censorship of “hate speech,” pack the Supreme Court, and admit DC and Puerto Rico as states just to add four more Democrats to the Senate? And that’s before you ask for any Democrat to make a criticism of the 1619 Project. I’m not aware of a single one yet who has done so. But remember: Trump’s tweets are mean!
This has a long history. People think the “Blame America First Democrats” was an invention of Jeane Kirkpatrick in 1984, but it goes back much further than that. At the height of the urban rioting in the 1960s, Hubert Humphrey remarked that had he lived in a ghetto he could have led a pretty good riot himself—a remark he later came to regret and tried to walk back. In 1971 Walter Mondale remarked that “The sickening truth is that this country is rapidly coming to resemble South Africa.” Shirley MacLaine said in 1972 that “Right now the social soul of America is so sick that even the overthrow of a political regime may be insufficient.” I can go on with pages of statements like this from Democratic politicians, leading journalists, and, naturally, academics.
In other words, what we’re seeing today is the essential DNA of the modern Democratic Party coming to the fore amidst a crisis, and a lot of voters can perceive this clearly, which is why the polls are tightening.
In fact, even Hollywood gets this. Just recall this 20-second scene from an early episode of The Simpsons, which appeared back when George H.W. Bush was president:
Come to think of it, Sideshow Bob would make a good running mate for Joe Isuzu.
PAUL ADDS: It wasn’t just Harris staffers who contributed to fund drives to bail out protesters and rioters. Biden staffers did too.
And Harris herself tweeted: “If you are able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota.”
The night before Harris tweeted this, the Minneapolis police made 15 arrests. Eight were for curfew violations, five were for possession of a firearm without a permit, one involved a felon in possession of a firearm, and one was for a combination of curfew violation, reckless driving, and weapons possession.
There were also 13 arrests for arson in or around this time period, as well as some for felony burglary. A duo was arrested after police saw their car — containing bottles of isopropyl alcohol, an empty mason jar box and an empty lighter fluid bottle — near the burning Dakota County Service Center.
These are some of the folks on whose behalf the Democratic nominee for vice president asked her followers to “chip in.”


powerlineblog--2020-08-31--Riots and Joe Biden’s Joe Isuzu Problem [with comment by Paul]


powerlineblog--2020-09-06--Shades of Dan Rather in Jeffrey Goldberg’s anti-Trump hit piece

Should we believe the story , reported by the Atlantic ’ s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg , that President Trump made disparaging comments about American soldiers who died in Normandy ?
I don ’ t .
Trump has a very nasty side , but I doubt he made the nasty comments Goldberg ’ s attributes to him .
For one thing , it ’ s not Trump ’ s practice to disparage people who haven ’ t disparaged him .
Sure , he expressed a lack of respect for John McCain ’ s war heroism .
But that was because McCain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no beef with soldiers who died in Normandy many decades ago .
Moreover , John Bolton , who was present when Trump supposedly made his disparaging comments , says it didn ’ t happen .
Bolton is not friend of the president .
In fact , his memoir of his time at the White House paints a disparaging picture of Trump , and includes reports of statements that cast the president in a very negative light .
The fact that Bolton has gone on the record defending Trump in this instance is telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ none of Goldberg ’ s sources has gone on the record .
As Glenn Greenwald says : Goldberg claims that “ four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day ” — whom the magazine refuses to name because they fear “ angry tweets ” — told him that Trump made these comments .
Trump , as well as former aides who were present that day ( including Sarah Huckabee Sanders and John Bolton ) , deny that the report is accurate .
So we have anonymous sources making claims on one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( including Bolton , now a harsh Trump critic ) insisting that the story is inaccurate .
Goldberg notes that media sources other than the Atlantic say they have “ confirmed ” Goldberg ’ s report .
However , he adds that the “ confirmation ” appears to consist of some of Goldberg ’ s unnamed sources repeating the same story .
This confirms that the sources said what Goldberg reports , but not that they are telling the truth about what Trump said ( and that Bolton is not ) .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aligned with the original sources and sharing their agenda have repeated their claims .
As Greenwald says , “ given that none of the sources making these claims have the courage to identify themselves , due to their fear of mean tweets , it is impossible to know.
” ( Emphasis added ) Greenwald sees parallels between the “ confirmation ” of Goldberg ’ s report and that of CNN ’ s fake news story from December 2017 that during the 2016 campaign , claiming that Donald Trump Jr. received a September 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave him advanced access to WikiLeaks ’ servers containing the DNC emails which were released to the public ten days later .
CNN ’ s claim was false .
It misreported the date of the “ smoking gun ” email Trump , Jr. received .
That email wasn ’ t sent to him ten days prior to WikiLeaks ’ public release .
It was sent after the public release of the DNC emails .
Like Goldberg ’ s hit piece , CNN ’ s bogus report was “ confirmed ” — in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In both instances , anonymous sources whispered something to a media outlet hostile to Trump and the same anonymous sources , or their friends , whispered it to other outlets .
One of our readers , a distinguished conservative journalist , finds another , even more apt , parallel to Goldberg ’ s hit piece — Dan Rather ’ s “ fake but accurate ” claim that President George W. Bush shirked his National Guard duty during the Vietnam War .
Rather ’ s story appeared at almost the exact same point in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — shortly after the Republican incumbent had an unexpectedly successful convention that produced a bounce .
Both stories involve allege disparagement by the Republican incumbent of military service — Bush ’ s by deed , Trump ’ s by word .
To round things off , Rather is now promoting Goldberg ’ s story .
He tweeted , “ Fox News reporting seems to confirm much of what was in @ TheAtlantic report by @ JeffreyGoldberg.
” Fox News ’ “ confirmation ” is the kind described by Greenwald .
There is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rather ’ s contained “ evidence ” — e.g .
a typewritten memo — that enabled critics like Scott and John to debunk it .
Goldberg ’ s is devoid of evidence other than the say-so of anonymous sources .
Can we say with certainty that Goldberg ’ s report is false ?
No .
We can only say that , as in the case of Rather ’ s , there is no sound reason to believe it .

Should we believe the story, reported by the Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, that President Trump made disparaging comments about American soldiers who died in Normandy? I don’t. Trump has a very nasty side, but I doubt he made the nasty comments Goldberg’s attributes to him.
For one thing, it’s not Trump’s practice to disparage people who haven’t disparaged him. Sure, he expressed a lack of respect for John McCain’s war heroism. But that was because McCain was a political enemy. Trump has no beef with soldiers who died in Normandy many decades ago.
Moreover, John Bolton, who was present when Trump supposedly made his disparaging comments, says it didn’t happen. Bolton is not friend of the president. In fact, his memoir of his time at the White House paints a disparaging picture of Trump, and includes reports of statements that cast the president in a very negative light. The fact that Bolton has gone on the record defending Trump in this instance is telling.
It’s also telling that none of Goldberg’s sources has gone on the record. As Glenn Greenwald says:
Goldberg claims that “four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day” — whom the magazine refuses to name because they fear “angry tweets” — told him that Trump made these comments. Trump, as well as former aides who were present that day (including Sarah Huckabee Sanders and John Bolton), deny that the report is accurate. So we have anonymous sources making claims on one side, and Trump and former aides (including Bolton, now a harsh Trump critic) insisting that the story is inaccurate.
Goldberg notes that media sources other than the Atlantic say they have “confirmed” Goldberg’s report. However, he adds that the “confirmation” appears to consist of some of Goldberg’s unnamed sources repeating the same story. This confirms that the sources said what Goldberg reports, but not that they are telling the truth about what Trump said (and that Bolton is not).
It’s also possible that new sources aligned with the original sources and sharing their agenda have repeated their claims. As Greenwald says, “given that none of the sources making these claims have the courage to identify themselves, due to their fear of mean tweets, it is impossible to know.” (Emphasis added)
Greenwald sees parallels between the “confirmation” of Goldberg’s report and that of CNN’s fake news story from December 2017 that during the 2016 campaign, claiming that Donald Trump Jr. received a September 4 email with a secret encryption key that gave him advanced access to WikiLeaks’ servers containing the DNC emails which were released to the public ten days later. CNN’s claim was false. It misreported the date of the “smoking gun” email Trump, Jr. received. That email wasn’t sent to him ten days prior to WikiLeaks’ public release. It was sent after the public release of the DNC emails.
Oops.
Like Goldberg’s hit piece, CNN’s bogus report was “confirmed” — in that case by MSNBC and CBS News. In both instances, anonymous sources whispered something to a media outlet hostile to Trump and the same anonymous sources, or their friends, whispered it to other outlets.
One of our readers, a distinguished conservative journalist, finds another, even more apt, parallel to Goldberg’s hit piece — Dan Rather’s “fake but accurate” claim that President George W. Bush shirked his National Guard duty during the Vietnam War.
Rather’s story appeared at almost the exact same point in the campaign cycle as Goldberg’s — shortly after the Republican incumbent had an unexpectedly successful convention that produced a bounce. Both stories involve allege disparagement by the Republican incumbent of military service — Bush’s by deed, Trump’s by word.
To round things off, Rather is now promoting Goldberg’s story. He tweeted, “Fox News reporting seems to confirm much of what was in @TheAtlantic report by @JeffreyGoldberg.”
Fox News’ “confirmation” is the kind described by Greenwald.
There is one difference between the two hit pieces. Rather’s contained “evidence” — e.g. a typewritten memo — that enabled critics like Scott and John to debunk it. Goldberg’s is devoid of evidence other than the say-so of anonymous sources.
Can we say with certainty that Goldberg’s report is false? No. We can only say that, as in the case of Rather’s, there is no sound reason to believe it.


Fire Fanaticism

Churchill once defined a fanatic as “ someone who can ’ t change his mind and won ’ t change the subject , ” so it was entirely predictable that the climatistas would declare the massive wildfires raging in the west right now are proof that the climate change debate is over .
Shut up , they explained .
Governor Gruesome Newsom says so , so there !
Also the Los Angeles Times today : The real reason for the large fires is the overloading of our western forests over the last several decades , which can be laid at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppression starting almost a century ago , and environmentalist opposition to any pro-active forest management on public lands .
Environmentalists without fail run to the courthouse to block every Forest Service forest thinning plans , delaying and sometime blocking sensible forest management .
This morning I updated my old time-series of total acres burned in the U.S. since 1930 that I used to include in my annual Index of Leading Environmental Indicators , and you can see that the U.S. used to experience as much as 50 million acres burned in some years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 2 million from the 1950s through the 1970s , when it became more evident that this was a mistake .
The interesting thing with the current climatista fanaticism is that the best refutation of it comes from ProPublica , a distinctively left-wing media outlet .
The entire article is worth a read if you have time , but here are the important numbers from the article : Yes , there ’ s been talk across the U.S. Forest Service and California state agencies about doing more prescribed burns and managed burns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” would be to create a black-and-green checkerboard across the state .
The black burned parcels would then provide a series of dampers and dead ends to keep the fire intensity lower when flames spark in hot , dry conditions , as they did this past week .
But we ’ ve had far too little “ good fire , ” as the Cassandras call it .
Too little purposeful , healthy fire .
Too few acres intentionally burned or corralled by certified “ burn bosses ” ( yes , that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Code ) to keep communities safe in weeks like this .
Academics believe that between 4.4 million and 11.8 million acres burned each year in prehistoric California .
Between 1982 and 1998 , California ’ s agency land managers burned , on average , about 30,000 acres a year .
Between 1999 and 2017 , that number dropped to an annual 13,000 acres .
The state passed a few new laws in 2018 designed to facilitate more intentional burning .
But few are optimistic this , alone , will lead to significant change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In February 2020 , Nature Sustainability published this terrifying conclusion : California would need to burn 20 million acres — an area about the size of Maine — to restabilize in terms of fire .
.
.
Carl Skinner , another Cassandra , who started firefighting in Lassen County in 1968 and who retired in 2014 after 42 years managing and researching fire for the U.S. Forest Service , sounded profoundly , existentially tired .
“ We ’ ve been talking about how this is where we were headed for decades.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inhabits a zone to the left of NPR .
Meanwhile , worth also a brief look at a 2012 paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences entitled “ Long-Term Perspectives on Wildfires in the Western USA.
” Here ’ s the relevant part of the abstract ( with my bolded highlight ) : Translation : we can expect a lot more large fires until we get the overgrowth of our forests under control .
Forest management isn ’ t rocket science ; native Americans actually practiced it .
Active forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change is real , but instead of forest management , the climatistas think we can stop destructive forest fires by banning fracking and the internal combustion engine .
See also Michael Shellenberger on the California fires .

Churchill once defined a fanatic as “someone who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject,” so it was entirely predictable that the climatistas would declare the massive wildfires raging in the west right now are proof that the climate change debate is over. Shut up, they explained. Governor Gruesome Newsom says so, so there! Also the Los Angeles Times today:
The real reason for the large fires is the overloading of our western forests over the last several decades, which can be laid at the feet of excessive and misguided fire suppression starting almost a century ago, and environmentalist opposition to any pro-active forest management on public lands. Environmentalists without fail run to the courthouse to block every Forest Service forest thinning plans, delaying and sometime blocking sensible forest management.
This morning I updated my old time-series of total acres burned in the U.S. since 1930 that I used to include in my annual Index of Leading Environmental Indicators, and you can see that the U.S. used to experience as much as 50 million acres burned in some years. That number fell to as low as 2 million from the 1950s through the 1970s, when it became more evident that this was a mistake.
The interesting thing with the current climatista fanaticism is that the best refutation of it comes from ProPublica, a distinctively left-wing media outlet. The entire article is worth a read if you have time, but here are the important numbers from the article:
Yes, there’s been talk across the U.S. Forest Service and California state agencies about doing more prescribed burns and managed burns. The point of that “good fire” would be to create a black-and-green checkerboard across the state. The black burned parcels would then provide a series of dampers and dead ends to keep the fire intensity lower when flames spark in hot, dry conditions, as they did this past week. But we’ve had far too little “good fire,” as the Cassandras call it. Too little purposeful, healthy fire. Too few acres intentionally burned or corralled by certified “burn bosses” (yes, that’s the official term in the California Resources Code) to keep communities safe in weeks like this. Academics believe that between 4.4 million and 11.8 million acres burned each year in prehistoric California. Between 1982 and 1998, California’s agency land managers burned, on average, about 30,000 acres a year. Between 1999 and 2017, that number dropped to an annual 13,000 acres. The state passed a few new laws in 2018 designed to facilitate more intentional burning. But few are optimistic this, alone, will lead to significant change. We live with a deathly backlog. In February 2020, Nature Sustainability published this terrifying conclusion: California would need to burn 20 million acres — an area about the size of Maine — to restabilize in terms of fire. . . Carl Skinner, another Cassandra, who started firefighting in Lassen County in 1968 and who retired in 2014 after 42 years managing and researching fire for the U.S. Forest Service, sounded profoundly, existentially tired. “We’ve been talking about how this is where we were headed for decades.”
Nice work by ProPublica, which otherwise inhabits a zone to the left of NPR.
Meanwhile, worth also a brief look at a 2012 paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences entitled “Long-Term Perspectives on Wildfires in the Western USA.” Here’s the relevant part of the abstract (with my bolded highlight):
Analysis of climate reconstructions beginning from 500 CE and population data show that temperature and drought predict changes in biomass burning up to the late 1800s CE. Since the late 1800s , human activities and the ecological effects of recent high fire activity caused a large, abrupt decline in burning similar to the LIA fire decline. Consequently, there is now a forest “fire deficit” in the western United States attributable to the combined effects of human activities, ecological, and climate changes. Large fires in the late 20th and 21st century fires have begun to address the fire deficit, but it is continuing to grow.
Translation: we can expect a lot more large fires until we get the overgrowth of our forests under control. Forest management isn’t rocket science; native Americans actually practiced it. Active forest management is especially necessary if serious climate change is real, but instead of forest management, the climatistas think we can stop destructive forest fires by banning fracking and the internal combustion engine.
See also Michael Shellenberger on the California fires.


powerlineblog--2020-09-24--Justice but no peace

Justice but no peace

The woke mob has spoken .
The decision not to charge any officer with homicide in connection with the death of Breonna Taylor is an outrage .
Lebron James , that great legal mind , says so .
Let the rioting commence .
Actually , it has .
But was the charging decision in Louisville unjust ?
Andy McCarthy says it wasn ’ t .
I agree .
The cops [ who fired the shots ] were doing their job in executing a lawful search warrant at a location that was quite justifiably tied to a notorious criminal — Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Glover .
.
.
.
At about 12:40 a.m. , the police , led by [ officers ] Mattingly and Cosgrove , knocked on the door and announced themselves as police .
Taylor and Walker were startled out of their sleep .
Walker , a licensed owner of a nine-millimeter Glock , says he did not know it was the police at the door and speculated that it might be Glover breaking in .
For their part , the police expected that Ms. Taylor would be alone — they had not seen Walker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was dark and there was a long hallway between the bedroom and the front door .
There was screaming .
Walker fired as Mattingly came through the door , striking him in the leg and severely wounding him .
Mattingly and Cosgrove returned fire into the hallway in the general direction of where they believed the shooter was .
When the smoke cleared , Walker was unharmed but Taylor had been struck six times .
FBI ballistics experts eventually determined that Cosgrove fired the fatal shot .
.
.
.
The police were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to have been more than adequate probable cause for the search in light of Glover ’ s ties to the apartment .
Even if there were any doubt about that , the warrant had been duly authorized and therefore police were entitled to rely on it .
And they were fired upon before reasonably responding with lethal force .
Clearly , neither Mattingly nor Cosgrove committed a crime .
Another officer on the scene might well have : [ Officer ] Hankison , who was in the parking lot outside the apartment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not have seen began .
He sprayed the patio and a window with ten bullets — irresponsibly , to be sure , but fortunately without harming anyone .
Hankison , who had a spotty disciplinary record in almost 20 years as a cop , was terminated when police officials judged that his conduct during the raid shocked the conscience .
Hankinson has been charged with reckless endangerment .
He can not be charged with more , and certainly not with homicide , because his shots didn ’ t kill or injure anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an African-American who spoke compellingly at the Republican National Convention , deserves great credit for charging this case properly , rather than being swayed by the mob .
He has delivered justice .
For that reason , there will be no peace .

The woke mob has spoken. The decision not to charge any officer with homicide in connection with the death of Breonna Taylor is an outrage. Lebron James, that great legal mind, says so. Let the rioting commence. Actually, it has.
No justice, no peace.
But was the charging decision in Louisville unjust? Andy McCarthy says it wasn’t. I agree.
McCarthy explains:
The cops [who fired the shots] were doing their job in executing a lawful search warrant at a location that was quite justifiably tied to a notorious criminal — Ms. Taylor’s former boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover. . . . At about 12:40 a.m., the police, led by [officers] Mattingly and Cosgrove, knocked on the door and announced themselves as police. Taylor and Walker were startled out of their sleep. Walker, a licensed owner of a nine-millimeter Glock, says he did not know it was the police at the door and speculated that it might be Glover breaking in. For their part, the police expected that Ms. Taylor would be alone — they had not seen Walker enter the dwelling with her. It was dark and there was a long hallway between the bedroom and the front door. There was screaming. Walker fired as Mattingly came through the door, striking him in the leg and severely wounding him. Mattingly and Cosgrove returned fire into the hallway in the general direction of where they believed the shooter was. When the smoke cleared, Walker was unharmed but Taylor had been struck six times. FBI ballistics experts eventually determined that Cosgrove fired the fatal shot. . . . The police were properly executing a lawful warrant. There appears to have been more than adequate probable cause for the search in light of Glover’s ties to the apartment. Even if there were any doubt about that, the warrant had been duly authorized and therefore police were entitled to rely on it. And they were fired upon before reasonably responding with lethal force.
Clearly, neither Mattingly nor Cosgrove committed a crime.
Another officer on the scene might well have:
[Officer] Hankison, who was in the parking lot outside the apartment, began firing when the commotion he could not have seen began. He sprayed the patio and a window with ten bullets — irresponsibly, to be sure, but fortunately without harming anyone. Hankison, who had a spotty disciplinary record in almost 20 years as a cop, was terminated when police officials judged that his conduct during the raid shocked the conscience.
Hankinson has been charged with reckless endangerment. He cannot be charged with more, and certainly not with homicide, because his shots didn’t kill or injure anyone.
Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron, an African-American who spoke compellingly at the Republican National Convention, deserves great credit for charging this case properly, rather than being swayed by the mob. He has delivered justice. For that reason, there will be no peace.


powerlineblog--2020-09-26--The Week in Pictures: Witness Protection Edition

“ Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time.
” Winston Churchill “ Proclaim Liberty throughout @ @ @ @ @ the Inhabitants Thereof.
” Inscription on the Liberty Bell

“Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time.” Winston Churchill
“Proclaim Liberty throughout All the land unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.” Inscription on the Liberty Bell


powerlineblog--2020-10-03--The George Floyd documentary

The George Floyd documentary

Minnesota became the center of the universe in connection with the death of George Floyd on May 25 .
The death of Mr. Floyd and the leftist lawlessness that permeates the Twin Cities combined to produce the sorriest year in the state ’ s history .
Governor Walz ’ s rule by edict since March 25 has compounded it .
John and I have both noted former prosecutor George Parry ’ s contrarian take on the death of Mr. Floyd in “ Who Killed George Floyd ?
” and in “ Chauvin , Lane , Kueng , and Thao : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American Spectator and also at his Knowledge Is Good site .
In the prefatory note that accompanied the second column as posted at KIG , he wrote : “ Floyd ’ s fentanyl intoxication combined with his severe coronary artery disease , extreme agitation and other factors placed him at imminent risk of sudden death from cardiac arrhythmia .
In many ways , this is an even more likely explanation for his death than an overdose .
Either way , the police did not harm or kill him.
” In August , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared for the umpteenth time that “ George Floyd was murdered in front of the world.
” Having assigned the prosecution of the officers to former Nation of Islam race hustler Keith Ellison , Walz has long since abandoned any concern for a fair trial and compounded the tragedy with disgrace .
Walz himself done his share to contribute to the mob atmosphere of the case against the four officers .
Mr. Parry has now cooperated in the production of the 24-minute documentary below on Floyd ’ s death .
He explains : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ password-protected version is being circulated to many media outlets and notables in preparation for its release .
Ultimately it will be accessible through a website that the producers are setting up .
But , last night , a party unknown posted the documentary on YouTube .
So far it has not disappeared down the YouTube memory hole for violating “ community standards ” or whatever other Orwellian reason the Google grandees may invent… .
The documentary runs 2 [ 4 ] minutes and parts of it are hard to watch .
So heed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and proceed accordingly .
If the video is removed from YouTube , check back at Knowledge Is Good for updated information .
The documentary raises the question of fact : what killed George Floyd ?
We don ’ t have all the evidence that will be introduced at trial .
For the time being , the documentary may serve as a counterweight to the mob atmosphere enveloping the case .
It should open a few minds to the possibility that the case is more complicated than it appeared the week of May 25 @

Minnesota became the center of the universe in connection with the death of George Floyd on May 25. The death of Mr. Floyd and the leftist lawlessness that permeates the Twin Cities combined to produce the sorriest year in the state’s history. Governor Walz’s rule by edict since March 25 has compounded it.
John and I have both noted former prosecutor George Parry’s contrarian take on the death of Mr. Floyd in “Who Killed George Floyd?” and in “Chauvin, Lane, Kueng, and Thao: The George Floyd Fall Guys” at the American Spectator and also at his Knowledge Is Good site. In the prefatory note that accompanied the second column as posted at KIG, he wrote: “Floyd’s fentanyl intoxication combined with his severe coronary artery disease, extreme agitation and other factors placed him at imminent risk of sudden death from cardiac arrhythmia. In many ways, this is an even more likely explanation for his death than an overdose. Either way, the police did not harm or kill him.”
In August, by the way, Governor Walz publicly declared for the umpteenth time that “George Floyd was murdered in front of the world.” Having assigned the prosecution of the officers to former Nation of Islam race hustler Keith Ellison, Walz has long since abandoned any concern for a fair trial and aggravated the tragedy with disgrace. Walz himself has done more than his share to contribute to the mob atmosphere that surrounds the case against the four officers.
Mr. Parry has now cooperated in the production of the 24-minute documentary below on Floyd’s death. He explains:
The documentary has been completed and a password-protected version is being circulated to many media outlets and notables in preparation for its release. Ultimately it will be accessible through a website that the producers are setting up. But, last night, a party unknown posted the documentary on YouTube. So far it has not disappeared down the YouTube memory hole for violating “community standards” or whatever other Orwellian reason the Google grandees may invent…. The documentary runs 2[4] minutes and parts of it are hard to watch. So heed the warning to viewers in the documentary and proceed accordingly.
If the video is removed from YouTube, check back at Knowledge Is Good for updated information.
The documentary raises the question of fact: what killed George Floyd? We don’t have all the evidence that will be introduced at trial. For the time being, the documentary may serve as a counterweight to the mob atmosphere enveloping the case. It should open a few minds to the possibility that the case is more complicated than it appeared the week of May 25.


powerlineblog--2020-10-09--Coronavirus in one state (110)

Coronavirus in one state (110)

Kevin Roche and I were law school classmates .
I didn ’ t see him much in class because he was working his way through school .
Since then he has become a friend .
As the former general counsel to UnitedHealth and chief executive officer of its Ingenix division , he brings a useful expertise to the subject of my Coronavirus in one state series , and I have frequently turned to him for guidance .
In part 109 I yielded the floor to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his guests at Wednesday ’ s press conference .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the post .
Kevin has now responded to the event in “ When Will the I.B .
Do a Roundtable for Lockdown and Terrorization ‘ Victims ’ ?
” Having retired the moniker “ dictator ” in his references to Walz , Kevin now refers to him as “ Incompetent Blowhard.
” That ’ s what the “ I.B.
” stands for .
The Incompetent Blowhard pre-empted the usual briefing on Wednesday for a “ roundtable ” of people affected by CV-19 , “ victims , ” “ survivors ” and “ long-haulers.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I.B.
’ s party .
This is a disgraceful and shameless attempt to influence policy by emotional appeals , liberally salted with misinformation and outright lies .
No level is too low for the Blowhard to stoop .
The participants in this charade should be ashamed of themselves and hopefully someday they will be , when they consider that they are aiding in perpetuating policies which have wreaked tremendous damage on Minnesotans .
He displayed his usual tactics of fear-mongering .
He blamed the “ virus ” for his actions–no , these were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone everywhere made the same decisions .
He said Wisconsin had “ 8000 cases today ” because they didn ’ t do what he has done .
Wisconsin hasn ’ t come close to that many new cases on any day .
His typical misinformation gambit .
He said we need stimulus money to help the state and people , but we only need that because he has precluded normal economic activity .
Where is the roundtable for the real victims of this epidemic–the people who have been devastated by the I.B.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign of terror .
Where is the roundtable for the hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who lost jobs ?
For the thousands of small business owners whose dreams have been destroyed ?
For the health care system which has seen a significant diminishment of capacity and resources ?
For the children who have been made fearful , anxious and depressed ; and who have been deprived of a normal social and education life , which will have life-long effects for them ?
For the minorities and low-income people who are disproportionately impacted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lip service about their plight , but spewing words are the only thing the Blowhard is good at ?
For the increased victims of child and domestic abuse ?
For the increased victims of alcohol and drug abuse and accompanying deaths ?
For the isolation and loneliness imposed on our elderly citizens near the end of their lives ?
Most importantly , for the over 1500 deaths above average which have occurred among Minnesotans , not due to the virus , but due to the Blowhard ’ s actions ?
No , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , much less a roundtable .
Because in the Incompetent Blowhard ’ s world , all that matters is people who may have CV-19 .
No one else counts .
Actions speak louder than even the tsunami of words emanating from the Blowhard , and those actions tell us one thing and one thing only–he doesn ’ t care .
He only manipulates and messages .
He is desperate to justify his actions , and these maudlin events are apparently the best he can come up with .
I am sickened .

Kevin Roche and I were law school classmates. I didn’t see him much in class because he was working his way through school. Since then he has become a friend. As the former general counsel to UnitedHealth and chief executive officer of its Ingenix division, he brings a useful expertise to the subject of my Coronavirus in one state series, and I have frequently turned to him for guidance.
In part 109 I yielded the floor to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his guests at Wednesday’s press conference. I included a video of the event in the post. Kevin has now responded to the event in “When Will the I.B. Do a Roundtable for Lockdown and Terrorization ‘Victims’?” Having retired the moniker “dictator” in his references to Walz, Kevin now refers to him as “Incompetent Blowhard.” That’s what the “I.B.” stands for.
Kevin writes:
The Incompetent Blowhard pre-empted the usual briefing on Wednesday for a “roundtable” of people affected by CV-19, “victims,” “survivors” and “long-haulers.” All undoubtedly stalwart members of the I.B.’s party. This is a disgraceful and shameless attempt to influence policy by emotional appeals, liberally salted with misinformation and outright lies. No level is too low for the Blowhard to stoop. The participants in this charade should be ashamed of themselves and hopefully someday they will be, when they consider that they are aiding in perpetuating policies which have wreaked tremendous damage on Minnesotans.
He displayed his usual tactics of fear-mongering. He blamed the “virus” for his actions–no, these were your decisions that you made and not everyone everywhere made the same decisions. He said Wisconsin had “8000 cases today” because they didn’t do what he has done. Wisconsin hasn’t come close to that many new cases on any day. His typical misinformation gambit. He said we need stimulus money to help the state and people, but we only need that because he has precluded normal economic activity.
Where is the roundtable for the real victims of this epidemic–the people who have been devastated by the I.B.’s irrational and unbalanced actions and his campaign of terror. Where is the roundtable for the hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who lost jobs? For the thousands of small business owners whose dreams have been destroyed? For the health care system which has seen a significant diminishment of capacity and resources?
For the children who have been made fearful, anxious and depressed; and who have been deprived of a normal social and education life, which will have life-long effects for them? For the minorities and low-income people who are disproportionately impacted by these actions, and who get only lip service about their plight, but spewing words are the only thing the Blowhard is good at? For the increased victims of child and domestic abuse? For the increased victims of alcohol and drug abuse and accompanying deaths? For the isolation and loneliness imposed on our elderly citizens near the end of their lives? Most importantly, for the over 1500 deaths above average which have occurred among Minnesotans, not due to the virus, but due to the Blowhard’s actions?
No, there will be no acknowledgement of these victims, much less a roundtable. Because in the Incompetent Blowhard’s world, all that matters is people who may have CV-19. No one else counts. Actions speak louder than even the tsunami of words emanating from the Blowhard, and those actions tell us one thing and one thing only–he doesn’t care. He only manipulates and messages. He is desperate to justify his actions, and these maudlin events are apparently the best he can come up with. I am sickened.


powerlineblog--2020-10-09--The Gretchen Whitmer blame game

The Gretchen Whitmer blame game

The FBI has accused Michigan militia members of plotting to kidnap Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
The kidnapping was to be part of a wider plan to overthrow several state governments believed by militia members to be violating the Constitution , according to the FBI .
Whitmer , her fellow Democrats , and their media allies are blaming President Trump for inciting the militia lunatics .
Whitmer repeated the falsehood that Trump has refused to condemn white supremacists .
Others cited Trump ’ s criticism of Whitmer ’ s insanely stringent shutdown of Michigan ’ s economy , including a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Words have consequences ” is the mantra of those trying to score political points off of the militiamen escapade .
Words do have consequences .
But using this truism to condemn unintended consequences of words is a dangerous game — one that threatens freedom of speech and facilitates tyranny .
Whitmer ’ s words , blaming Trump for a kidnapping plot against her , might have bad consequences .
They might incite a lunatic to retaliate by trying to kill Trump or a member of his family .
Recall the attempt by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a dozen GOP House members at a baseball practice .
In fact , four years of left-wing rhetoric have created the possibility of violence against Republican leaders .
A person stupid enough to believe the left ’ s claim that Trump is owned by the Russians might also be crazy enough to plot to kill him .
As far as we know , that hasn ’ t happened .
But the left ’ s demonization of America ’ s police has resulted in the killing of police officers .
The left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right for violence by lunatics than vice versa .
However , it ’ s a game both sides play .
Both sides should stop playing it .
In America , people should be free to denounce their president , their governor , and their police forces in the strongest terms without being blamed for violence against these parties that they don ’ t advocate .
And by the way , Brandon Caserta , a central figure in the plot against Whitmer , is an anti-Trump anarchist .
He has called the president a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have incited Caserta to do anything .
But it doesn ’ t matter what Caserta thinks about the president .
Trump did not advocate violence against Whitmer and therefore is not responsible for attempted violence against her .
UPDATE by JOHN : Here is police-hater Brandon Caserta , with his Antifa flag in the background .
A Donald Trump-inspired anarchist , obviously .
There is no depth to which the Democrats will not sink :

The FBI has accused Michigan militia members of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The kidnapping was to be part of a wider plan to overthrow several state governments believed by militia members to be violating the Constitution, according to the FBI.
Whitmer, her fellow Democrats, and their media allies are blaming President Trump for inciting the militia lunatics. Whitmer repeated the falsehood that Trump has refused to condemn white supremacists. Others cited Trump’s criticism of Whitmer’s insanely stringent shutdown of Michigan’s economy, including a tweet that said “liberate Michigan.”
“Words have consequences” is the mantra of those trying to score political points off of the militiamen escapade.
Words do have consequences. But using this truism to condemn unintended consequences of words is a dangerous game — one that threatens freedom of speech and facilitates tyranny.
Whitmer’s words, blaming Trump for a kidnapping plot against her, might have bad consequences. They might incite a lunatic to retaliate by trying to kill Trump or a member of his family. Recall the attempt by a left-wing Bernie Sanders supporter to assassinate more than a dozen GOP House members at a baseball practice.
In fact, four years of left-wing rhetoric have created the possibility of violence against Republican leaders. A person stupid enough to believe the left’s claim that Trump is owned by the Russians might also be crazy enough to plot to kill him.
As far as we know, that hasn’t happened. But the left’s demonization of America’s police has resulted in the killing of police officers.
The left is far more prone to blame the right for violence by lunatics than vice versa. However, it’s a game both sides play.
Both sides should stop playing it. In America, people should be free to denounce their president, their governor, and their police forces in the strongest terms without being blamed for violence against these parties that they don’t advocate.
And by the way, Brandon Caserta, a central figure in the plot against Whitmer, is an anti-Trump anarchist. He has called the president a tyrant. Clearly, Trump could not have incited Caserta to do anything.
But it doesn’t matter what Caserta thinks about the president. Trump did not advocate violence against Whitmer and therefore is not responsible for attempted violence against her.
UPDATE by JOHN: Here is police-hater Brandon Caserta, with his Antifa flag in the background. A Donald Trump-inspired anarchist, obviously. There is no depth to which the Democrats will not sink:


powerlineblog--2020-10-09--Voter Fraud In Minnesota: An Update

Voter Fraud In Minnesota: An Update

We have written here , here , here , here , and here about Project Veritas ’ s explosive video series on voter fraud in Minnesota ’ s Somali community , and the effort by liberal press outlets in the Twin Cities to suppress that report .
Veritas ’ s primary contact inside the Somali community is Omar Jamal , who is a full-time employee of the Ramsey County Sheriff ’ s Department and a former member of the Somali mission to the United Nations .
A local television station , Fox 9 , published a report on the Veritas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That report has blown up in the face of reporter Tom Lyden , who produced it .
Lyden simply took the principal miscreant seen in one of the Veritas videos , a ballot harvester named Liban , and tried to turn him into a hero .
On Fox 9 , Liban said that he lied in his own Snapchat video when he said that he had illegally harvested 300 ballots on behalf of a DFL candidate , when in fact he had illegally harvested only 20 .
A great defense !
Lyden also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omar Jamal had offered him $ 10,000 as though it were a fact , notwithstanding that it came from an admitted criminal and liar .
Further , Lyden claimed that Jamal himself had recanted his story .
This was apparently based on a misunderstanding of something that Jamal said in Somali .
I have met with Omar Jamal , and I can assure you that he has recanted nothing .
A number of people are continuing to work on the story , and we will see how many additional witnesses will come forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on in Minnesota elections .
The FBI , too , is said to be investigating .
Notwithstanding the efforts of news outlets like the Star Tribune and Fox 9 , I doubt that a lid can be kept on this story .
I understand , too , that Project Veritas is contemplating defamation lawsuits against the Star Tribune , Fox 9 , and perhaps others .
If you want to know more about ballot security in Minnesota and around the nation , Center of the American Experiment is conducting a public forum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It will be held at International Market Square in Minneapolis .
Doors will open at 5 and the program will begin at 6 .
I will moderate a panel that includes Andy Cilek , President of the Minnesota Voters Alliance , Matthew Tyrmand of Project Veritas , and , if he accepts our invitation , Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon .
You can register for the event here .
We will also livestream the program ; details on that will be released next week .

We have written here, here, here, here, and here about Project Veritas’s explosive video series on voter fraud in Minnesota’s Somali community, and the effort by liberal press outlets in the Twin Cities to suppress that report. Veritas’s primary contact inside the Somali community is Omar Jamal, who is a full-time employee of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department and a former member of the Somali mission to the United Nations.
A local television station, Fox 9, published a report on the Veritas videos that was essentially a smear. That report has blown up in the face of reporter Tom Lyden, who produced it. Lyden simply took the principal miscreant seen in one of the Veritas videos, a ballot harvester named Liban, and tried to turn him into a hero. On Fox 9, Liban said that he lied in his own Snapchat video when he said that he had illegally harvested 300 ballots on behalf of a DFL candidate, when in fact he had illegally harvested only 20. A great defense! Lyden also published Liban’s unsupported assertion that Omar Jamal had offered him $10,000 as though it were a fact, notwithstanding that it came from an admitted criminal and liar. Further, Lyden claimed that Jamal himself had recanted his story. This was apparently based on a misunderstanding of something that Jamal said in Somali. I have met with Omar Jamal, and I can assure you that he has recanted nothing.
A number of people are continuing to work on the story, and we will see how many additional witnesses will come forward to testify to the corruption that is going on in Minnesota elections. The FBI, too, is said to be investigating. Notwithstanding the efforts of news outlets like the Star Tribune and Fox 9, I doubt that a lid can be kept on this story. I understand, too, that Project Veritas is contemplating defamation lawsuits against the Star Tribune, Fox 9, and perhaps others.
If you want to know more about ballot security in Minnesota and around the nation, Center of the American Experiment is conducting a public forum on ballot security on October 22. It will be held at International Market Square in Minneapolis. Doors will open at 5 and the program will begin at 6. I will moderate a panel that includes Andy Cilek, President of the Minnesota Voters Alliance, Matthew Tyrmand of Project Veritas, and, if he accepts our invitation, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. You can register for the event here. We will also livestream the program; details on that will be released next week.


powerlineblog--2020-10-10--The Week in Pictures: The Fly Edition

The Week in Pictures: The Fly Edition

So forget the old saying , “ Oh to be a fly on the wall.
” After this week , @ @ @ @ @ a fly on Mike Pence ’ s head .
Of course , there are two @ @ @ @ @ is , the fly was a Deep State nanobot designed to interfere with Pence ’ @ @ @ @ @ him up in the debate .
The other theory is that is was a Trump @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re several steps ahead of the Biden campaign in the electronic cheating department @ @ @ @ @ think we ought to keep a close eye on Pence , and check on Jeff @ @ @ @ @ to be sure .
We ’ ve never actually seen them in the same room @ @ @ @

So forget the old saying, “Oh to be a fly on the wall.” After this week, we all want to be a fly on Mike Pence’s head. Of course, there are two theories about this. One is, the fly was a Deep State nanobot designed to interfere with Pence’s brain waves and mess him up in the debate. The other theory is that is was a Trump campaign nanobot to show that they’re several steps ahead of the Biden campaign in the electronic cheating department. Either way, I think we ought to keep a close eye on Pence, and check on Jeff Goldblum’s location just to be sure. We’ve never actually seen them in the same room, have we?
Headlines of the week:
And finally. . .


powerlineblog--2020-10-09--What Our Children Learn In School

What Our Children Learn In School

Our public schools are run , for the most part , by liberal administrators , and teachers are drawn , usually , from the lowest quadrant of academic ability among college graduates .
There are exceptions , of course , but the overall level of instruction in the public schools is abysmal .
And that isn ’ t the worst of it : teachers who are marginally able , at best , to teach the subjects for which they are nominally responsible often devote themselves to political indoctrination instead .
Most such forays into left-wing mythology go unreported , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone and records a teacher ’ s rant .
That happened a few weeks ago in a 9th grade Geography class in a suburban Twin Cities high school : The teacher ’ s ignorance is cosmic : 1 ) There is no “ Speaker of the Senate.
” 2 ) McConnell didn ’ t say there wasn ’ t enough time to confirm Merrick Garland .
3 ) The idea that “ life in America is gon na change radically ” if there is a conservative majority on the Supreme Court is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opinion of the court ” ?
Sheer incoherence .
5 ) “ Conservatives believe that corporations should be considered humans and should have rights.
” Stupid beyond belief .
No one has ever said that a corporation is a human , nor has anyone ever denied that corporations have rights .
This is why , for example , President Trump can ’ t shut down CNN and the New York Times .
Tempting though it may be .
In this particular case , the kid ’ s parents are fighting back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inappropriate conduct to the local school board .
But this kind of thing goes on every day , in thousands of classrooms across the country .
Almost never are there consequences .
A colleague of mine had an idea that I think has merit .
She thinks that if parents knew this kind of political indoctrination is going on , teachers would stop , or at least scale back .
Thus , every classroom should be streamed online , and parents of kids in every class should be given access to the stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could check in and see exactly what is going on in his son ’ s or daughter ’ s classroom .
This is much like the manner in which parents use cameras in their homes to keep tabs on what babysitters are up to .
Given the quality of instruction in our public schools , the analogy is almost perfect .

Our public schools are run, for the most part, by liberal administrators, and teachers are drawn, usually, from the lowest quadrant of academic ability among college graduates. There are exceptions, of course, but the overall level of instruction in the public schools is abysmal. And that isn’t the worst of it: teachers who are marginally able, at best, to teach the subjects for which they are nominally responsible often devote themselves to political indoctrination instead.
Most such forays into left-wing mythology go unreported, but occasionally an enterprising kid turns on his phone and records a teacher’s rant. That happened a few weeks ago in a 9th grade Geography class in a suburban Twin Cities high school:
The teacher’s ignorance is cosmic: 1) There is no “Speaker of the Senate.” 2) McConnell didn’t say there wasn’t enough time to confirm Merrick Garland. 3) The idea that “life in America is gonna change radically” if there is a conservative majority on the Supreme Court is a fantasy. 4) “This is an opinion of the court”? Sheer incoherence. 5) “Conservatives believe that corporations should be considered humans and should have rights.” Stupid beyond belief. No one has ever said that a corporation is a human, nor has anyone ever denied that corporations have rights. This is why, for example, President Trump can’t shut down CNN and the New York Times. Tempting though it may be.
In this particular case, the kid’s parents are fighting back and taking the teacher’s incompetent and inappropriate conduct to the local school board. But this kind of thing goes on every day, in thousands of classrooms across the country. Almost never are there consequences.
A colleague of mine had an idea that I think has merit. She thinks that if parents knew this kind of political indoctrination is going on, teachers would stop, or at least scale back. Thus, every classroom should be streamed online, and parents of kids in every class should be given access to the stream. At any moment, a parent could check in and see exactly what is going on in his son’s or daughter’s classroom. This is much like the manner in which parents use cameras in their homes to keep tabs on what babysitters are up to. Given the quality of instruction in our public schools, the analogy is almost perfect.


powerlineblog--2020-10-10--Podcast: The Three Whisky Happy Hour: A Victory Lap, a Beatdown, and Still More Liberal Education!

This week ’ s recap starts off with a challenge to find the most unpronounceable scotch whisky you ’ ve never heard of ( like Poit Dhubh , which is unavailable in the U.S. ) , plus a review of the 10 health benefits of drinking scotch whisky ( some of which need a controlled experiment to validate properly , which we ’ re happy to conduct ourselves ) .
Once suitably lubricated , we take a victory lap for our prescient discussion in last week ’ s episode about the machinations of the 25th Amendment , which Speaker Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris to the Presidency Commission .
From there we ponder whether New York Times columnist Bret Stephens wrote his own suicide note at the paper with his long column yesterday blasting the paper ’ s 1619 Project .
I can ’ t imagine the Wokerati at the paper will sit still for this thorough exercise in self-criticism , as I ’ ve always understood that an unwritten rule at the Times is not criticizing your colleagues in print .
From there we resume our discussion of liberal education in a democracy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to read more Dostoyevsky .
By the way , we ’ re completely open to suggestions for good whisky-potato chip pairings .
You know what to do now : listen here , or through our hosts at Ricochet .

This week’s recap starts off with a challenge to find the most unpronounceable scotch whisky you’ve never heard of (like Poit Dhubh, which is unavailable in the U.S.), plus a review of the 10 health benefits of drinking scotch whisky (some of which need a controlled experiment to validate properly, which we’re happy to conduct ourselves).
Once suitably lubricated, we take a victory lap for our prescient discussion in last week’s episode about the machinations of the 25th Amendment, which Speaker Pelosi vindicated with her proposal for the Promote Kamala Harris to the Presidency Commission.
From there we ponder whether New York Times columnist Bret Stephens wrote his own suicide note at the paper with his long column yesterday blasting the paper’s 1619 Project. I can’t imagine the Wokerati at the paper will sit still for this thorough exercise in self-criticism, as I’ve always understood that an unwritten rule at the Times is not criticizing your colleagues in print.
From there we resume our discussion of liberal education in a democracy, winding up with the recommendation that Americans need to read more Dostoyevsky.
By the way, we’re completely open to suggestions for good whisky-potato chip pairings.
You know what to do now: listen here, or through our hosts at Ricochet.


powerlineblog--2020-10-10--NBA’s kowtowing to China pays off

NBA’s kowtowing to China pays off

The NBA ( or should I call it the ChBA ) is back on Chinese state television after a one-year absence .
The absence occurred because Daryl Morey , general manager of the Houston Rockets , expressed support for protesters in Hong Kong , as they suffered from ramped up oppression by the Red Chinese .
The NBA and its players , led by Lebron James , bowed and scraped as best they could , but the Red Chinese weren ’ t placated .
The outbreak in America of speech China ’ s tyrants don ’ t like could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punished .
But the NBA kept kowtowing , and it has finally paid off .
The operators of Chinese state television are televising NBA games again , starting with Game 5 of the Lakers-Heat Finals .
They stated : In the Chinese National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival that just passed , the NBA expressed holiday blessings to Chinese fans .
We have also noticed the goodwill continuously expressed by the NBA for some time .
Especially since the beginning of this year the NBA has made active efforts in supporting the Chinese people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The lesson ?
When kowtowing to China doesn ’ t work , try continuous kowtowing .
In the past year , China hasn ’ t moderated its oppressive stance towards Hong Kong .
Nor has it let up on its enslaved Uighur population of Muslims .
None of these horrors , not even the forced sterilizations , bothers the NBA .
It would rather obsess over a few cases in which American police officers have killed African-Americans , almost always either accidentally or with justification .
Kowtow to the ruthless tyrants of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect us from crime .
That ’ s how the NBA rolls .
Its reward is a Chinese television audience to replace the millions of Americans who are tuning the NBA out .
.
.for as long as the NBA sides with Red China and backs the radical BLM movement , I hope .

The NBA (or should I call it the ChBA) is back on Chinese state television after a one-year absence. The absence occurred because Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, expressed support for protesters in Hong Kong, as they suffered from ramped up oppression by the Red Chinese.
The NBA and its players, led by Lebron James, bowed and scraped as best they could, but the Red Chinese weren’t placated. The outbreak in America of speech China’s tyrants don’t like could not be tolerated. It had to be punished.
But the NBA kept kowtowing, and it has finally paid off. The operators of Chinese state television are televising NBA games again, starting with Game 5 of the Lakers-Heat Finals. They stated:
In the Chinese National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival that just passed, the NBA expressed holiday blessings to Chinese fans. We have also noticed the goodwill continuously expressed by the NBA for some time. Especially since the beginning of this year the NBA has made active efforts in supporting the Chinese people in fighting against the novel coronavirus epidemic.
(Emphasis added)
The lesson? When kowtowing to China doesn’t work, try continuous kowtowing.
In the past year, China hasn’t moderated its oppressive stance towards Hong Kong. Nor has it let up on its enslaved Uighur population of Muslims.
None of these horrors, not even the forced sterilizations, bothers the NBA. It would rather obsess over a few cases in which American police officers have killed African-Americans, almost always either accidentally or with justification.
Kowtow to the ruthless tyrants of China, but hammer the Americans who protect us from crime. That’s how the NBA rolls.
Its reward is a Chinese television audience to replace the millions of Americans who are tuning the NBA out. . .for as long as the NBA sides with Red China and backs the radical BLM movement, I hope.


powerlineblog--2020-10-10--The Fundamentals vs the Polls

The Fundamentals vs the Polls

When a president runs for re-election , a fundamental question is whether voters think their circumstances have gotten better during the past four years .
Gallup asked this question a few days ago , and 56 % of respondents say they and their families are better off today than they were four years ago .
That is a remarkable finding .
Approaching the end of President Reagan ’ s first term , only 44 % said they were better off .
At the end of Obama ’ s first term , the figure was 45 % .
A president running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have gotten better off during his first term should be cruising to an easy re-election , especially when Gallup also finds that voters are more likely to say they agree with Trump than with Biden on the issues .
And yet the polls tell us that Joe Biden is pulling away toward a possible landslide , while the Democrats may be poised to take control over the Senate .
How can this be ?
Part of the answer is the coronavirus , of course .
It has nothing to do with Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has provided Democrats with endless opportunities for talking ( or rather , yammering ) points .
But still , voters knew about the virus when they said their families are better off than four years ago .
I think the more basic point is that the Swamp has fought a four-year war of attrition against the president .
The Swamp ’ s major efforts included the years-long Russia hoax and the impeachment farce , but more important than either was the daily dose of negative headlines .
And anyone who has consumed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has learned that hating the president is de rigueur .
The endless assault has taken an inevitable toll , even though the Democrats ’ attacks have , on the merits , failed or misfired .
One of Joe Biden ’ s campaign themes is a “ return to normalcy.
” He means a return to the days when the Swamp ruled supreme , when politicians like Biden enriched themselves and their families while selling out the interests of the American people .
But many voters are so tired of the endless hysteria of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to vote for Biden simply to bring it to an end .
The howling two-year-old may be about to get its way .
To some extent , President Trump and his administration can be faulted for not fighting back effectively enough .
For instance , it is hard to understand why it took four years to get to the bottom of Hillary Clinton ’ s Russia fraud .
And now we have the announcement that John Durham ’ s investigation will not be completed until after the election–too little , too late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflects the fact that a Republican president does not actually control much of the executive branch .
And , in any event , can we imagine a different Republican fighting the Swamp harder or more effectively than Donald Trump has done ?
In the end , if President Trump loses the current election , the lesson will be that one man can ’ t successfully take on the entire establishment .
Trump fought the press , the schools , the dominant tech companies , the Chinese and Russians and those who are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the no-borders interests , the entertainment industry , the public sector unions , the greedy “ green ” interests , the useless career politicians like Joe Biden .
The American people benefited , but it may prove to have been too much .
The president ’ s epitaph might be : Trump fought the Swamp , and the Swamp won .
But who knows ?
It ’ s not over yet .
Maybe this bizarre year has another surprise or two in store for us .

When a president runs for re-election, a fundamental question is whether voters think their circumstances have gotten better during the past four years. Gallup asked this question a few days ago, and 56% of respondents say they and their families are better off today than they were four years ago.
That is a remarkable finding. Approaching the end of President Reagan’s first term, only 44% said they were better off. At the end of Obama’s first term, the figure was 45%. A president running in an environment where a solid majority have gotten better off during his first term should be cruising to an easy re-election, especially when Gallup also finds that voters are more likely to say they agree with Trump than with Biden on the issues.
And yet the polls tell us that Joe Biden is pulling away toward a possible landslide, while the Democrats may be poised to take control over the Senate. How can this be?
Part of the answer is the coronavirus, of course. It has nothing to do with Donald Trump, but has created a massive distraction and has provided Democrats with endless opportunities for talking (or rather, yammering) points. But still, voters knew about the virus when they said their families are better off than four years ago.
I think the more basic point is that the Swamp has fought a four-year war of attrition against the president. The Swamp’s major efforts included the years-long Russia hoax and the impeachment farce, but more important than either was the daily dose of negative headlines. And anyone who has consumed popular culture over the past four years has learned that hating the president is de rigueur. The endless assault has taken an inevitable toll, even though the Democrats’ attacks have, on the merits, failed or misfired.
One of Joe Biden’s campaign themes is a “return to normalcy.” He means a return to the days when the Swamp ruled supreme, when politicians like Biden enriched themselves and their families while selling out the interests of the American people. But many voters are so tired of the endless hysteria of the last four years that they are willing to vote for Biden simply to bring it to an end. The howling two-year-old may be about to get its way.
To some extent, President Trump and his administration can be faulted for not fighting back effectively enough. For instance, it is hard to understand why it took four years to get to the bottom of Hillary Clinton’s Russia fraud. And now we have the announcement that John Durham’s investigation will not be completed until after the election–too little, too late. In part, this difficulty likely reflects the fact that a Republican president does not actually control much of the executive branch. And, in any event, can we imagine a different Republican fighting the Swamp harder or more effectively than Donald Trump has done?
In the end, if President Trump loses the current election, the lesson will be that one man can’t successfully take on the entire establishment. Trump fought the press, the schools, the dominant tech companies, the Chinese and Russians and those who are in their pockets, the anti-Israel lobby, the no-borders interests, the entertainment industry, the public sector unions, the greedy “green” interests, the useless career politicians like Joe Biden. The American people benefited, but it may prove to have been too much. The president’s epitaph might be: Trump fought the Swamp, and the Swamp won.
But who knows? It’s not over yet. Maybe this bizarre year has another surprise or two in store for us.


powerlineblog--2020-10-10--Coronavirus in one state (111)

Coronavirus in one state (111)

In yesterday ’ s data , the authorities attributed 14 deaths to COVID-19 .
Thirteen of the 14 new deaths occurred among residents of long-term or congregate care facilities .
This seems accurately to represent the current state of the epidemic in Minnesota .
On days when the number of new deaths jumps , congregate care settings predominate .
Over the the three preceding days , the authorities reported four new deaths ( 10/6 , one LTC ) , 14 new deaths ( 10/7 , 9 LTC ) , and 8 new deaths ( 10/8 , six LTC ) to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities are under the thumb of the authorities , they attribute the fatalities among LTC residents to staff bringing it in from outside .
It ’ s not their fault .
It ’ s our fault .
I guess that ’ s why we ’ re all under the thumb of the authorities .
The authorities continue to instill fear by highlighting case numbers .
In yesterday ’ s press briefing ( audio below ) , Health Commissioner Malcolm emphasized that the median age of new cases has risen from 35 to 36 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ median age of COVID-19 decedents remains 83 or that the median age of decedents from all causes is about 79 .
When Governor Walz declared a statewide emergency and issued his sweeping lockdown order on March 25 , hospital capacity was the stated rationale .
He anticipated 74,000 deaths without his strictures and 50,000 with them .
Hospitals would be overwhelmed absent the lockdown , he said .
Victims of the disease would be dying in the streets .
He wasn ’ t going to let that happen .
Tracking the daily hospitalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , I found the impact of the disease on the capacity of the health system to be relatively low , especially over the past four or five months .
By contrast , Walz ’ s restrictions wrought enormous damage on the health system itself .
They have resulted in the closure of facilities and the removal of beds .
It ’ s one of those secondary impacts that is concealed or minimized in the daily panic .
As of Thursday , MDH has replaced the daily hospitalization/ICU numbers with the capacity data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week of August .
The more darkly shaded area of each of the two charts reflects numbers attributed to the epidemic .
The charts are posted at Minnesota ’ s COVID-19 Response Capacity and updated daily .
Given the small share of hospitalizations attributable to COVID-19 and visible in the charts , by the way , the authorities now downplay its significance and stress the overall context .
They stress that operating near capacity is situation normal .
This is a perspective that was almost entirely lacking in every press briefing until yesterday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the related questions raised by reporters focus on new cases and test positivity rates .
New cases have increased at a lower percentage than the increase in tests administered .
Isn ’ t that good ?
I must be missing something .
Yesterday ’ s data included 1,401 new cases — a high number , but one based on 31,857 lab test results and a positivity rate of 4.4 percent ( under the five percent level MDH posits as a threshold of concern ) .
Isn ’ t that good ?
Again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these numbers are meaningful .

In yesterday’s data, the authorities attributed 14 deaths to COVID-19. Thirteen of the 14 new deaths occurred among residents of long-term or congregate care facilities. This seems accurately to represent the current state of the epidemic in Minnesota. On days when the number of new deaths jumps, congregate care settings predominate. Over the the three preceding days, the authorities reported four new deaths (10/6, one LTC), 14 new deaths (10/7, 9 LTC), and 8 new deaths (10/8, six LTC) to the epidemic.
Although the long-term care facilities are under the thumb of the authorities, they attribute the fatalities among LTC residents to staff bringing it in from outside. It’s not their fault. It’s our fault. I guess that’s why we’re all under the thumb of the authorities.
The authorities continue to instill fear by highlighting case numbers. In yesterday’s press briefing (audio below), Health Commissioner Malcolm emphasized that the median age of new cases has risen from 35 to 36. Malcolm did not mention that the median age of COVID-19 decedents remains 83 or that the median age of decedents from all causes is about 79.
When Governor Walz declared a statewide emergency and issued his sweeping lockdown order on March 25, hospital capacity was the stated rationale. He anticipated 74,000 deaths without his strictures and 50,000 with them. Hospitals would be overwhelmed absent the lockdown, he said. Victims of the disease would be dying in the streets. He wasn’t going to let that happen.
Tracking the daily hospitalization data until the Department of Health killed it, I found the impact of the disease on the capacity of the health system to be relatively low, especially over the past four or five months. By contrast, Walz’s restrictions wrought enormous damage on the health system itself. They have resulted in the closure of facilities and the removal of beds. It’s one of those secondary impacts that is concealed or minimized in the daily panic.
As of Thursday, MDH has replaced the daily hospitalization/ICU numbers with the capacity data below, running back to the first week of August. The more darkly shaded area of each of the two charts reflects numbers attributed to the epidemic. The charts are posted at Minnesota’s COVID-19 Response Capacity and updated daily.
Given the small share of hospitalizations attributable to COVID-19 and visible in the charts, by the way, the authorities now downplay its significance and stress the overall context. They stress that operating near capacity is situation normal. This is a perspective that was almost entirely lacking in every press briefing until yesterday.
Commissioner Malcolm’s remarks and the related questions raised by reporters focus on new cases and test positivity rates. New cases have increased at a lower percentage than the increase in tests administered. Isn’t that good? I must be missing something.
Yesterday’s data included 1,401 new cases — a high number, but one based on 31,857 lab test results and a positivity rate of 4.4 percent (under the five percent level MDH posits as a threshold of concern). Isn’t that good? Again, I must be missing something, assuming these numbers are meaningful.


Remembering Whitey Ford

Whitey Ford , the most successful pitcher ever to play for baseball ’ s most successful franchise , died on Thursday at the age of 91 .
Ford was the mainstay of the New York Yankees ’ pitching staffs for almost the entirety of the team ’ s post-war dynasty ( though he missed 1951 and 1952 due to military service ) .
The Yankees called up Ford from the minor leagues during the 1950 pennant race .
He responded by winning nine of ten decisions , plus Game 4 , the final contest , of the World Series .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ innings in that one .
At the time , the other Yankee pitching stars were Vic Raschi ( born in 1919 ) , Allie Reynolds ( born in 1917 ) , and Eddie Lopat ( born in 1918 ) .
In 1964 , when Ford pitched in his last World Series , the Yankees ’ other main starters were Jim Bouton ( born in 1939 ) , Al Downing ( born in 1941 ) and Mel Stottlemyre ( also born in 1941 ) .
Ford started 22 World Series games , a record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pitched in more Fall Classics ( 24 ) .
Ford ’ s death came only a few weeks after that of another all-time World Series pitching star , Bob Gibson .
Between the pair , they won 17 World Series games .
Ford won ten of them , but also lost eight , compared to only two losses by Gibson .
The true testimony to Ford ’ s quality in the World Series is his 2.71 ERA in 146 innings of work .
Ford and Gibson never faced off in a Series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1964 Classic against Gibson ’ s Cardinals , but didn ’ t pitch again in that Series due to numbness in his hand .
Gibson pitched in Games 2 , 5 , and 7 .
In some ways , Ford was the anti-Gibson on the mound .
Gibson was an intimidating athlete — a power pitcher who seemed to pour every fiber of himself into every pitch .
Ford was only 5-10 and weighed 178 pounds .
He was a calm presence on the mound and didn ’ t overpower hitters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ only because , as Brooks Robinson said , he never gave batters anything they could hit .
Walt Dropo , who beat out Ford for Rookie of the Year honors in 1950 , called his rival a master chess player who used his brain to take the bat out of a hitter ’ s hands .
Ford never started a hitter off with the same pitch and threw four pitches at different speeds with varying arm angles to every part of the plate , the slugger complained .
Gibson was a workhorse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ innings per season .
Casey Stengel , a manager ahead of time , did not work Ford that hard .
Under Stengel , Ford typically pitched around 220 innings a season .
Stengel underused Ford in the World Series .
Gibson started three games in each of his three World Series .
Stengel gave Ford three starts in only one of the five seven-game Series in which the two were together .
Ford believed the Yankees would have won the 1960 World Series against Pittsburgh if Stengel had given him three starts instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ford was probably right .
He gave up no runs in the 18 innings he did pitch in that Series .
( Ford continued his stingy ways during the 1961 Series and ended up breaking Babe Ruth ’ s record for consecutive scoreless World Series innings with 33 2/3 ) .
The Yankees ’ usage of Ford changed when Ralph Houk became the manager in 1961 .
That year , Ford started 39 games and pitched 283 innings , a trend that continued until Ford wore out in mid-decade .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one Cy Young award and two 20 win seasons came under Houk .
Had Stengel not been Ford ’ s manager , the lefthander ’ s career stats would be more gaudy .
However , they are impressive enough as it is : 236 wins , 106 losses , and a 2.75 ERA that ’ s almost identical to his World Series mark .
Except for Clayton Kershaw , who is still active , Ford ’ s career ERA is the lowest of any starting pitcher whose career began after 1920 .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the highest among all modern-day major league pitchers with at least 200 wins .
Off the field , Ford was famous for his drinking exploits with Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin , until the Yankees traded Martin for being a “ bad influence ” on the two stars .
The trade did not slow Ford and Mantle down .
After both retired , they touted their drinking in a famous commercial for Miller Lite .
Ford lamented that if that product had been around in their playing days , he and Mickey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall of Fame .
The commercial drew criticism .
Inability to take a joke isn ’ t a phenomenon unique to the 21st Century .
Ford later admitted that he and Mantle “ overdid ” the drinking .
Ford reportedly quit drinking at some point during the last century .
Ford liked to say that the three ingredients that make a good pitcher are “ arm , heart and head.
” “ Arm and heart are assets , head a necessity , ” he would add .
Ford had a good arm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class head for pitching .
He had one additional ingredient : athletic arrogance .
To give just one example , before the sixth game of the 1955 World Series , Ford appeared on the Ed Sullivan show .
Sullivan asked Ford who was going to pitch Game 6 , which the Yankees had to win to force a seventh game .
Ford responded , “ I am , and Tommy ’ s pitching the Seventh Game.
” True to his word , Ford beat the Dodgers 5-1 , on a four-hitter .
Tommy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Ford made it a point to never show up opponents .
He always headed directly to the dugout after a win , and never displayed emotion on the mound , positive or negative .
According to his SABR biography , umpires generally considered Ford one of the nicest players in the game .
Ford could also be modest .
In 2001 , he co-wrote a book about great Yankee players .
He selected Lefty Gomez ( the man who gave Ford the nickname “ Whitey ” ) as the team ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when asked why , Ford replied , “ I lied.
” He did .
Whitey Ford is the greatest Yankee pitcher of all time , period .
RIP .

Whitey Ford, the most successful pitcher ever to play for baseball’s most successful franchise, died on Thursday at the age of 91. Ford was the mainstay of the New York Yankees’ pitching staffs for almost the entirety of the team’s post-war dynasty (though he missed 1951 and 1952 due to military service).
The Yankees called up Ford from the minor leagues during the 1950 pennant race. He responded by winning nine of ten decisions, plus Game 4, the final contest, of the World Series. Ford allowed no earned runs over eight-plus innings in that one.
At the time, the other Yankee pitching stars were Vic Raschi (born in 1919), Allie Reynolds (born in 1917), and Eddie Lopat (born in 1918).
In 1964, when Ford pitched in his last World Series, the Yankees’ other main starters were Jim Bouton (born in 1939), Al Downing (born in 1941) and Mel Stottlemyre (also born in 1941).
Ford started 22 World Series games, a record. Only Mariano Rivera, a reliever, pitched in more Fall Classics (24).
Ford’s death came only a few weeks after that of another all-time World Series pitching star, Bob Gibson. Between the pair, they won 17 World Series games. Ford won ten of them, but also lost eight, compared to only two losses by Gibson. The true testimony to Ford’s quality in the World Series is his 2.71 ERA in 146 innings of work.
Ford and Gibson never faced off in a Series game. Ford started Game One of the 1964 Classic against Gibson’s Cardinals, but didn’t pitch again in that Series due to numbness in his hand. Gibson pitched in Games 2, 5, and 7.
In some ways, Ford was the anti-Gibson on the mound. Gibson was an intimidating athlete — a power pitcher who seemed to pour every fiber of himself into every pitch.
Ford was only 5-10 and weighed 178 pounds. He was a calm presence on the mound and didn’t overpower hitters. If he was intimidating, it was only because, as Brooks Robinson said, he never gave batters anything they could hit.
Walt Dropo, who beat out Ford for Rookie of the Year honors in 1950, called his rival a master chess player who used his brain to take the bat out of a hitter’s hands. Ford never started a hitter off with the same pitch and threw four pitches at different speeds with varying arm angles to every part of the plate, the slugger complained.
And late in his career, Ford mastered additional pitches — the scuffed ball and the mud ball. So he confessed in his autobiography, Slick: My Life in and Around Baseball.
Gibson was a workhorse. In his prime he pitched about 300 innings per season.
Casey Stengel, a manager ahead of time, did not work Ford that hard. Under Stengel, Ford typically pitched around 220 innings a season.
Stengel underused Ford in the World Series. Gibson started three games in each of his three World Series. Stengel gave Ford three starts in only one of the five seven-game Series in which the two were together.
Ford believed the Yankees would have won the 1960 World Series against Pittsburgh if Stengel had given him three starts instead of holding him back until Game 3. Ford was probably right. He gave up no runs in the 18 innings he did pitch in that Series. (Ford continued his stingy ways during the 1961 Series and ended up breaking Babe Ruth’s record for consecutive scoreless World Series innings with 33 2/3).
The Yankees’ usage of Ford changed when Ralph Houk became the manager in 1961. That year, Ford started 39 games and pitched 283 innings, a trend that continued until Ford wore out in mid-decade.
It’s no accident that Ford’s one Cy Young award and two 20 win seasons came under Houk. Had Stengel not been Ford’s manager, the lefthander’s career stats would be more gaudy. However, they are impressive enough as it is: 236 wins, 106 losses, and a 2.75 ERA that’s almost identical to his World Series mark.
Except for Clayton Kershaw, who is still active, Ford’s career ERA is the lowest of any starting pitcher whose career began after 1920. And his career winning percentage (.690) is the highest among all modern-day major league pitchers with at least 200 wins.
Off the field, Ford was famous for his drinking exploits with Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin, until the Yankees traded Martin for being a “bad influence” on the two stars. The trade did not slow Ford and Mantle down.
After both retired, they touted their drinking in a famous commercial for Miller Lite. Ford lamented that if that product had been around in their playing days, he and Mickey would have made the beer drinkers’ Hall of Fame.
The commercial drew criticism. Inability to take a joke isn’t a phenomenon unique to the 21st Century.
Ford later admitted that he and Mantle “overdid” the drinking. Ford reportedly quit drinking at some point during the last century.
Ford liked to say that the three ingredients that make a good pitcher are “arm, heart and head.” “Arm and heart are assets, head a necessity,” he would add. Ford had a good arm, a big heart, and a world class head for pitching.
He had one additional ingredient: athletic arrogance.
To give just one example, before the sixth game of the 1955 World Series, Ford appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. Sullivan asked Ford who was going to pitch Game 6, which the Yankees had to win to force a seventh game. Ford responded, “I am, and Tommy’s pitching the Seventh Game.” True to his word, Ford beat the Dodgers 5-1, on a four-hitter. Tommy Byrne lost Game 7 to Johnny Podres.
But Ford made it a point to never show up opponents. He always headed directly to the dugout after a win, and never displayed emotion on the mound, positive or negative. According to his SABR biography, umpires generally considered Ford one of the nicest players in the game.
Ford could also be modest. In 2001, he co-wrote a book about great Yankee players. He selected Lefty Gomez (the man who gave Ford the nickname “Whitey”) as the team’s all-time greatest left-handed pitcher.
Later, when asked why, Ford replied, “I lied.”
He did. Whitey Ford is the greatest Yankee pitcher of all time, period. RIP.