Things that I thought were interesting this morning — and an Open Thread

Yes, I know it’s afternoon now, but I looked at these things this morning and thought that they were interesting.  In no particular order:

In the 19th century, in America, it was “No Irish need apply.”  In the 21st century, in Canada, it’s “No Caucasians need apply.”  Nothing could illustrate more clearly that diversity has nothing to do with equality of everything to do with advancing a purely racist world view.  Progressives never change.  The first Progressive president, Woodrow Wilson, was a revolting racist whose favorite film was “Birth of a Nation” about the founding of the KKK.

I’ve got my eye on Cruz, and I mean that in a good way.  If he continues along the path he now walks, I’d be mighty interested in seeing him as a 2016 presidential candidate.  The problem is that I think he may be too sanguine about his Canadian birth to an American mom, because birtherism is going to become a media obsession if it involves a Republican, as opposed to a Democrat.  A lot can happen between now and 2015, when candidates start declaring, but I will be watching his trajectory.

Okay, you know all about me and the Navy.  I admire our Navy and, in common with just about every American, I really admire our Navy SEALS.  So, when I hear that a moderate Republican, former Navy SEAL, with a Harvard MBA is taking on a Democrat dinosaur in Massachusetts for Kerry’s recently-vacated Senate seat, I get pretty excited.  I know it’s a long shot but, honestly, who better than a SEAL?

Obama screwed up royally regarding Syria.  There’s no other way to put it.  He let a power vacuum occur, which al Qaeda filled and now, by backing down on his red line statement, he’s proven to be the weakest horse in the world stable.  This does not make me happy.  I mean, it’s good to see Obama revealed for what he is, but it puts the world at terrible risk.  I’d rather he had been successful.

It seems Sean Trende sees the 2014 election as something of a stalemate, with the Republicans retaining the House and the Democrats keeping the Senate.  Yay.  Just what we need.  Another couple of years of painful political theater.

And just for fun, Lucy as Carmen Miranda: