Why Does Rubio Hate America?

We pay Marco's Senate salary.  Playing Marco Rubio is much harder than the classic game of Marco Polo.  You can yell Marco up and down the Senate floor without ever hearing an answer.  He spits on our money.  Given his frequent financial problems, he should be more thankful for the paycheck.

The rare time he appears he spitefully harms America.  For six months he has blocked the popular appointment of Roberta Jacobson as ambassador  to Mexico.  Trade, immigration and energy issues languish to the detriment of the US.  She has served under Democratic and Republican administrations, knows Latin American politics, has trade negotiation experience, speaks Spanish, and was welcomed by Mexico.

Why the holdup?  Because as Assistant Secretary of State she helped negotiate the thaw in Cuban relations.  We get the Cuban part of Marco's Cuban-American heritage.  We wish he would get the American part.

Ditto

In the last Republican debate ISIS was the question.  Ditto was the response.  There were some exceptions.  Kasich urged US boots on the ground.  Some joined Hillary in calling for a no fly zone.  Ever the voice of reason, Trump called for killing women and children.

But on the whole, while calling him feckless, GOP candidates echoed Obama's policy of  bombing, use of special forces and maximizing regional involvement.  Nonetheless, I doubt they will applaud at the State of the Union when he reiterates the policies that they have endorsed.

Silent Night

Notwithstanding unexpected fund raising prowess, and overflow crowds, Bernie always had a tough Hill(ary) to climb.  Clinton has name recognition, a powerful organization, and ample funding.  Paris and San Bernardino have muted his economic populist message and spotlighted Clinton's foreign policy experience.

Hillary is content to quietly lock up super delegates and build the foundation for primary and general election victories.  Already a household name, she does not need press for success.  For Bernie each puff piece inflates his poll numbers.  As the Republican race sucks up the oxygen, it suffocates the Sanders campaign.

Clinton was wise to attend Trump's wedding.  He is her primary pal.

Saturday Night in the (Highland) Park

The second Saturday of each month is art night in Highland Park, Ca.  Local artists exhibit in and out of galleries.  Free wine and beer flows and music blows as you go down York in search of pork and other edibles.

The evening starts at one of the diverse collection of restaurants. El Huarache Azteca is my go to.

The York Avenue mainstay is the best food value in Los Angeles.

Generous tacos are street priced at one dollar.  Huaraches are three dollars for the regular and six for the super pictured below.

Huaraches, first created in Mexico City, are oblong mesa delights covered with meat, cheese, a thin layer of beans, onions and salsas.  My favorite is suadero, the beef equivalent of carnitas.

Art galleries and an eclectic mix of stores welcome strollers with beer, wine and music.

Additional spiritual or gastronomic sustenance is readily available.

Man does not live on Charles Shaw alone.  When it comes time for a serious drink, bars line both sides of the street.  Eschewing the more hormonal venues, Roslyn and I choose Sonny's for a custom cocktail and great (unpictured) flan.

On nearby streets Christmas lights shine.

Lessons of San Bernardino

San Bernardino is not the California dream.  Per capita income is among the lowest of urban areas in the state, and air quality is 3rd worst in the nation.  But what can we learn from the San Bernardino nightmare?

As with Paris, the danger is home grown terrorists. Syed Farook was born in Illinois.  Evidence is mounting that he was radicalized before contacting and marrying Tashfeen Malik.  He sought a kindred spirit.  But for his extremism, she would not have entered the country.

Some casualties may be inevitable in a war of ideas, but incendiary language by Republican presidential candidates can only add to the toll.  Trump could well be terrorist recruiter in chief.  Moreover, to the extent Trump, Cruz and others alienate the Muslim community, cooperation with authorities lessens.  We could be flooded with threats with a mere trickle of information.

Second we need to ban military grade weapons.  Maybe guns don't kill people, and it is people who kill people.  But clearly people with automatic and semi-automatic weapons kill more people.  True, some terrorists might illegally obtain such weapons.  But, law enforcement is trained to track illegal weapons.  Terrorists may be spotted because they seek illegal weapons.

Other steps may need to be taken such as tighter Visa background checks.  But the key is welcoming Muslim citizens into the flow of American life, and denying armament to those who seek to dam and damn that flow.

Republicans Abet ISIS

Republicans strive with every breath to enable domestic terrorism.  Refugees coming to this country are carefully screened.  Two thousand Syrians have relocated already without incident.  The refugee issue is a classic red herring.

Far fishier are GOP steps to radicalize American citizens and supply them with deadly force.  Presidential candidates threatening to close mosques and base immigration on religious affiliation are recruitment posters for ISIS.  To be successful radicals need  armament.  Republicans oblige, ensuring availability of military grade weaponry without so much as uniform background checks.  As an added bonus, Congressional Republicans refuse to authorize the war against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

I am willing to concede that Republicans are unwitting co-conspirators. In fact, I will be even more charitable, and concede that Republicans are unwitting.

Bully

Although Teddy Roosevelt said, "Talk softly, but carry a big stick," he thundered from his bully pulpit.  Trump has left out the pulpit.  This political season Republicans prefer their crazy to be loud. Soft spoken Carson fades, as The Donald dreams of a gaudy gold plated make over of the White House.

Responding to international insecurity,  the GOP wants a father figure who does not spare the rod.  Much like the Russians with Putin, Republicans cherish a seeming strongman who neither apologizes nor backs down.  But Trump riding bare chested through Central Park would be a bridge too far.