Images | Commentary | Digital Scrapbook
“…In one stroke, the agreement solves the U.S.’s two biggest Greenland problems: the deal stands even if Greenland ever becomes independent, and it reportedly gives U.S. veto power over Chinese or Russian involvement in the island’s affairs. To the Times, this is a dismal failure: “the agreement fell well short of Mr. Trump’s longstanding demand of total control over Greenland.”
He got the bases, the ban, the veto, and forever, and the Times marked him down for not also getting the gift shop or inheriting Greenland’s welfare state.
But in the very same story, the Times also reported that the announced terms include: a larger U.S. military presence and a build permit; a ban on non-NATO bases or military presence; full flyover rights; continued effect after a future Greenlandic independence; and a U.S. approval right over sensitive Russian or Chinese investments.
As I have explained before at painful length, Trump’s public demands to buy Greenland were a negotiating anchor. Under the announced deal, Denmark “wins” by keeping sovereignty while simultaneously giving the U.S. everything we need. Without having to “buy” anything. It was a masterstroke of negotiation…”
Not Dumb Enough for you? How about this?
Calif. board of trustees scraps Pledge of Allegiance over ‘white nationalism’ history
“…The massive increase in school spending hasn’t translated into improved educational outcomes or choices. Spending over $32,000 per student — a 44 percent increase in per-pupil spending — has improved neither the schools themselves nor school choices for lower-income families, overwhelmingly Black. Johnson’s school board presided over the systematic lowering of academic standards and a return to social promotion, as accountability for poor academic performance was abandoned. The district has even stopped ranking schools by academic performance.
As the quality of schools has degraded, the Johnson-controlled school board has worked to strengthen the teacher union’s monopoly on education — successfully opposing both the extension of the state’s private-school scholarship program for low-income families and the state’s opting into a federal scholarship program. The latter forgoing hundreds of millions of dollars in education support for public- and private-school families alike.
Meanwhile, the teacher’s union has been exerting pressure on the district and state legislature to degrade and ultimately eliminate public school choice…”
Related:
Faculty member celebrates as students engage in ‘decapitation’ of Trump piñata
“…The Atlantic piled a nice dung heap quickly…”
“…Thanks to gobs of government spending, armies of regulators, and the tireless efforts of Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles has managed to make itself the least affordable city in America! A fine demonstration of what the Democrat Party can do to a city if they just run it long enough…”
”…We’re not waiting to act – we’re going to speed up our work on substantial and responsible AI oversight before it’s too late. We’re going to do this thoughtfully but with urgent velocity; the stakes are too high to wait or delay action…”
Buffoonery in real time from the ultimate political poseur.
