WHO endorses COVID boosters: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-united-nations-immunizations-world-health-organization-fa6ca68d114782c9047ed0c9c167dac5 . This reverses the previous WHO position, which was stupid. It was always obvious that democratic countries producing vaccines would vaccinate their populations first. The countries that could purchase vaccines were next. That’s capitalism. And one might argue that capitalism is currently a more powerful organizing force in the world than democracy.
Zero COVID policy stresses Hong Kong: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-03-08/hong-kongs-zero-covid-fight-takes-mental-toll-on-society-experts-say . The miracle of the US surviving 4 years of Orange Julius as president does trace to the fact that many governments are not that bright. Here is another affirmation that China falls in that category.
WSJ: “Latest” on US gas prices: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gasoline-price-hits-record-high-11646730771 . Good grief. This information was out of date when written, LA is certainly not representative of anything except LA, and the record price of 2008 is not adjusted here for inflation. That makes calling the current price a record premature. The US could really use a good newspaper reporting from an economic perspective. The Journal has never really fit that description. With Murdoch ownership, “good” may no longer even be an aspiration there. A semi-update: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-surge-in-gas-prices-isnt-slowing-down-11646627663 . Arrgh … an article later in the day, with even more out-of-date information.
Biden bans Russian energy imports: https://news.yahoo.com/biden-us-to-ban-russian-oil-imports-ukraine-war-163729208.html . The effect of the US ban: https://www.aol.com/news/u-ban-russian-oil-mean-195502657-223634281.html .
US food and drink chains exit Russia: https://money.yahoo.com/mc-donalds-joins-corporate-americas-exit-from-russia-with-closure-of-850-restaurants-183619416.html . Da, comrade, is now McPutin’s. Menu is vodka and potatoes. Or, potatoes and vodka. Beet burger coming next fall. Is fried beet between two potatoes.
Pentagon rejects Polish proposal on giving jets to Ukraine: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/597427-pentagon-polish-proposal-to-send-mig-fighters-to-us-air-base-not-tenable . The problem appears to be logistics. Poland should allow Ukrainian pilots to fly the jets to Ukraine. The US should then cut a deal with Poland to give them US jets. And they should get this done yesterday.
WSJ: NATO resupply of Ukrainian forces: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nato-members-mount-huge-operation-to-resupply-ukrainian-fighters-11646761821 . So get Ukraine the damn fighter jets already.
WSJ: Ukrainian mayors become local resistance leaders: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-invasion-turns-ukraines-local-politicians-into-resistance-leaders-11646762857 . As I criticize the Journal’s often-poor and untimely reporting, it is only fair to call attention to this useful piece. The mayors are using social media to inform citizens (often multiple times a day) on events in their area. The article gave me several useful insights into the war. First, Zelensky staying in place has reinforced all of these mayors staying in place. It is true leadership. Second, the Ukrainians’ unity is the result of their democratic process and the unity of their citizens against the invaders.
And third, the male Ukrainian leaders seem to take care of themselves and their grooming, even with no electricity or running water in many cases right now. What is America’s justification for Ted Cruz’s beard?
Russia targets Ukrainian hospitals: https://www.aol.com/news/attacks-ukrainian-hospitals-ambulances-increasing-102034157-131753454.html . The Russians are not engaging in “indiscriminate shelling”. Targeting civilians is a war crime. More: https://www.aol.com/news/war-life-child-health-crisis-060535436-154414336.html .
An expert opinion on Putin’s future: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/putin-s-days-are-numbered-russian-strongman-has-shown-he-s-not-very-strong/ar-AAUM7A8?li=BBorjTa . Russian civilians are basically screwed for the long term. As this newsletter has said even before the invasion, Russia is on the way to becoming a client-state of China.
Another expert doubts Putin has a future: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/no-doubt-russia-will-see-regime-change-khodorkovsky/vi-AAUOqwF . This sobering assessment comes from a former inner circle member. However, what he says makes considerable sense. It is so ironic that those who promote false information end up suffering from poor information.
Swedes and Finns consider joining NATO: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/finland-and-sweden-weigh-expanding-bidens-nato-ring-of-freedom-around-russia/ar-AAUO7EO?li=BBnb7Kz . But the Swedes hit Russians where it really hurts: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/long-lines-as-ikea-announces-store-closures-in-russia/vi-AAUzUti . (Yes, I know IKEA is now headquartered in the Netherlands …).
WSJ: The effect of sanctions on Russian and Chinese aviation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-cant-fly-without-the-westbut-may-eventually-propel-china-11646738302 .
Russia’s pariah status squeezes the world’s banks and asset managers: https://247wallst.com/economy/2022/03/08/investors-brace-as-banks-weigh-russia-exits/ . With the collapse of the ruble and the Russian stock market, many of these investments are essentially illiquid right now. So we may not see this problem sort out for months. But in the meantime, the losses are real and must appear on the balance sheets.
Is Venezuelan oil a US possibility?: https://thehill.com/policy/international/597441-venezuela-releases-two-american-prisoners-after-talks-with-us-report . As pointed out here previously, the number of additional oil sources not controlled by a corrupt dictator is near zero.
Emmett Till bill heads to Biden for signature: https://apnews.com/article/biden-crime-hate-crimes-emmett-till-congress-fa1c6cdb1561b8fe757d84e0e8a05389 . This bill may seem to be 60 years too late, but it’s actually 150 years too late.
First January 6 trial result: Conviction in all counts: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-texas-riots-ded87e709176b8b68921cad2597ff2d7 . A former federal prosecutor in Texas said previously that this case was the canary in the coal mine for defendants. Today he said, “The canary just died”. The defendant could face more than 20 years in prison, although the actual sentence is expected to be much lower. The female judge is an Orange Julius appointee.
A rare unanimous verdict from the US Supreme Court: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/03/wooden-acca-supreme-court-prison-sentence.html . Kagan was chosen to write the unanimous opinion because she is capable. Her mastery of the hypothetical represents a key litigation skill. Kagan was US Solicitor General (the person in charge of arguing the government’s cases to the Supreme Court) before her appointment.
However, the article fails to discuss how far we have fallen. The great period for unanimous decisions was the Warren Court. Dwight Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren, the former governor of California, as Chief Justice. Warren was a decent lawyer, but he was a brilliant consensus-builder. The court he presided over, dominated by Roosevelt and Truman appointees, produced a consensus now considered to have a liberal bent.
Roberts in my view is a stronger lawyer than Warren, even though I agree with Warren’s views and not Roberts’. Roberts is also a smart politician. But no one can build an intelligent consensus on a court that has four clowns. Amy Coney Barrett disgraces herself every time she opens her mouth, and her opinion here is no exception. When the only person who joins your opinion is Clarence Thomas (on a unanimous Court, no less), it is a huge, flashing red light that you are on the wrong track. She’s just not smart enough to see that, which is why she has absolutely no business on the Court.
I’d like to know who first reviewed this brief and saw the possibility to right an obvious wrong. Hopefully it was a bright clerk on Roberts’ staff who saw the possibility of a unanimous opinion. The Court needs more of them.
Proud Boys leader charged in January 6 conspiracy: https://apnews.com/article/proud-boys-leader-arrested-on-conspiracy-charge-a9137827def99b60bb0adbf0617e5a9c .
Seahawks trade Russell Wilson: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/russell-wilson-traded-to-broncos-seahawks-agree-to-blockbuster-move-to-trade-superstar-pending-qbs-approval/ . This puts them squarely on the road to their pre-Wilson status as the Seattle SeaSucks. However, Wilson must approve the deal.
The Conference needs to re-evaluate its sponsorship of WSJ as a member benefit. Exhibit #1 is their pathetic coverage of gas prices described above. There are dozens of similar examples documented in the pages of earlier newsletters. But as readers know I almost always stay away from their editorials, because their board quite obviously has both poor judgment and a limited grasp of reality.
However, today’s editorial on Obama and Ukraine is Exhibit #2: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-barack-obama-didnt-arm-ukraine-vladimir-putin-russia-angela-merkel-11646692058?mod=trending_now_opn_2 . Rather than tearing this insane rewriting of history apart piece by piece, here is one question the CCA Board should answer. How can anyone possibly write this opinion piece without mentioning that Obama’s successor was impeached for withholding military aid to Ukraine to obtain a personal favor?
I realize that pulling the plug on WSJ damages the two years of daily effort put into this newsletter. And I will continue to focus on WSJ reporting and not opinion in this newsletter. But if we now stand against Russia’s rewriting of Ukrainian history, how can we in good conscience subsidize these fools’ rewriting of American history?