SACRAMENTO — Around this time last year‚ California Gov. Gavin Newsom toured the Southland —that is‚ Southern states such as Mississippi and Alabama‚ as opposed to communities in Southern California — as part of his Campaign for Democracy. It was a weird trip for a liberal California governor‚ as he lectured people thousands of miles from home about threats to democratic governance even as his own state attacked various freedoms‚ such as the right to earn a living as a contractor. READ MORE from Steven Greenhut: Patently Stupid Rules Keep Drug Prices High “The problem with our country right now is authoritarian leaders who are so hell-bent on gaining power and keeping it by whatever means necessary‚” Newsom said at one of his not-a-campaign stops. I share some of his concerns about the increasingly authoritarian nature of the MAGA movement‚ but making that case took moxie for a governor who‚ you know‚ grabbed every unchecked power that he could during the state’s COVID-19 trauma. All of that’s in the past‚ I suppose. This year‚ Newsom hasn’t ventured too far from home‚ where he is unusually fixated on stopping the People from having a say in the governor’s and Legislature’s tax and spending policies. The state’s usually milquetoast business community is so tired of California’s worsening business climate that it has qualified for the November ballot something called the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act. The measure is the ultimate form of democracy. Ever since progressive Gov. Hiram Johnson in 1911 instituted three main reforms — the recall‚ initiative‚ and referendum — California has been on the cutting edge of direct democracy. That system has yielded some troubling results‚ such as the creation of the property-rights-eroding California Coastal Commission. It also created the wonderful property-tax-limiting Proposition 13 in 1978 that helped propel Ronald Reagan into the White House. The proposed Taxpayer Protection Act is‚ by most accounts‚ the latest iteration of the Tax Revolt. It poses the most significant threat to the state’s Democratic establishment in decades by subjecting local tax hikes to a two-thirds local vote and requiring state voters to OK‚ by simple majority‚ any tax increases passed by our tax-happy Legislature. Democracy is great‚ I suppose‚ until pesky voters do stuff you don’t like. Despite their left-leaning voting habits for elected officials‚ California voters generally take more conservative stances with initiatives‚ so I understand why Newsom is afraid. As the Orange County Register opined: For a sense of the fear and trepidation it’s causing‚ consider that Newsom and the Legislature have filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court attempting keep the measure off the ballot. They claim it imposes such a broad change that it amounts to a constitutional revision rather than an amendment. That argument is hogwash. The Register noted that Newsom doesn’t fear the latest pointless recall effort — but he is sweating this one. It also noted that lawmakers passed two constitutional amendments for November that are designed to undermine the tax limitations included in the Taxpayer Protection Act. Assembly Constitutional Amendments 1 and 13 are cynical‚ but Newsom and Co. apparently don’t trust that the voters will see matters their way. Hence the all-hands-on-deck effort to scuttle the democratic process by trying to use the courts to put the kibosh on the Business Roundtable measure. Facing a huge budget deficit ($73 billion‚ by some accounts)‚ Newsom and the Legislature are caught flat-footed‚ as they’re running out of cash to fund their usual approach of taxing‚ spending‚ spending‚ and taxing. It doesn’t seem to bother them that the state’s much-publicized problems have only gotten worse with each new expenditure and that other problems — the rapid exodus of property insurers — remain largely unaddressed. The only restraint that has ever yielded decent policy in California is tightening purse strings‚ but the thought of making tough choices always causes discomfort in Sacramento. Whatever one’s view of the current state of governance here‚ of tax restraints‚ or of this particular measure‚ it’s hard to make a pro-democracy case for asking judges to keep a properly qualified initiative off of the ballot because the state’s leadership doesn’t like its content. Given how bad the business climate has become‚ businesses are facing an existential crisis and probably won’t back down in the face of Newsom’s ads that attempt to embarrass members of the Business Roundtable. Overall‚ this is a wild approach from a leader who ceaselessly campaigns for‚ er‚ democracy. In fact‚ Newsom sounds a lot like a leader who is‚ in his own words‚ “hell-bent on gaining power and keeping it by whatever means necessary.” Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute. Write to him at sgreenhut@rstreet.org. The post So Much for Newsom’s Support for Democracy appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

I have little time for CBS News. Like NBC‚ ABC‚ and CNN‚ its stories on the Middle East regularly treat the absurd casualty figures offered by Hamas as trustworthy‚ without the least note of their faulty methodology and their failure of elementary tests of statistical probability. They take the questionable premises of Ben Rhodes as a starting point and refer to Jewish settlements as obstacles to peace when in every bit of land under Palestinian or Muslim control east of Tunisia‚ only the barest skeleton of a Jewish community remains. These networks turn attention away from the ongoing plight of the hostages‚ both American and Israeli‚ at Hamas’s hands‚ and play up the “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza as if it were not the fault of the Hamas war criminals — as if only Israel were responsible‚ etc.‚ etc.‚ etc.‚ ad nauseum. But my editor here turned my attention to a piece that appeared on CBS on March 7‚ which‚ while typically myopic and distorted (how many ways the reality can be misread&;#33;)‚ was at least interesting and unusual. (READ MORE: Israeli Retaliation vs. Restraint) The piece begins by citing a Hamas listing of Israeli crimes — nothing special here — that suddenly veers into something weird. Abu Ubaida‚ a Hamas spokesperson‚ accused Israel of “bringing red cows” to Israel. Red Heifers Aren’t Part of a Scary Plot As an American Spectator reader‚ you are more likely than most in today’s America to know Scripture and so to guess what he was talking about: The red heifer mentioned in the Book of Numbers (Chapter 19).  You may also understand that the connection of the red heifer to any plot has nothing to do with its insidiousness. Yes‚ the Jews have prayed and continue to pray every day — at least those who use the traditional prayerbook rather than one modified by progressivism — for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. That has been going on three times a day at least since the Second Temple was destroyed. There is nothing new here‚ except for those who have found Jewish hope criminal‚ blasphemous‚ or satanic‚ many of whom are leaders of Middle East violence. (READ MORE: Surprise&;#33; The New (And Old) Palestinian Authority Is Jihadist) So‚ what is this red heifer business‚ then‚ if not a scary recidivist plot&;#63; Leviticus and Numbers set up a system by which holiness remains alive and palpable in the community’s experience. If one treats a holy place like a locker room‚ it doesn’t feel holy for very long. The Bible speaks of a system by which people become aware of tum’a‚ “impurity‚” and tahara‚ “purity. ” We tend to think of purity as meaning an absence of some contaminant. In the biblical system‚ it means an absence of life. In almost every case‚ biblical impurity is triggered by the removal of a person’s life force. The most obvious case is death‚ which is called in the Jewish legal tradition the “grandfather of impurities.” Being in contact with a corpse‚ walking over a grave‚ or being under the same roof as a corpse‚ even with no physical contact‚ can cause impurity. Under Jewish law it is a great mitzvah‚ a deed that connects you with God’s purpose in life‚ to attend personally to the dead‚ and to prepare a body for burial by washing and clothing it. Yet everyone involved contracts this grandfather of impurities. Clearly‚ tum’a is not a consequence of ungodly behavior‚ it just means that we need to be in a different state when we come into the holy grounds of the Temple or partake of food from the sacrifices or other sorts of holy foods mentioned in Scripture. Every kind of tum’a can be overcome. It is a cycle in life. Most impurities involve waiting one day and immersion in a pool of water (properly prepared) or certain natural bodies of water. Others require longer a longer wait. Approaching the Holy Mount The impurity from death requires not only a seven-day wait and an immersion‚ but it also uniquely requires the ‘impure’ person to be sprinkled with a mixture of special water taken from a spring and mixed with the ashes of a red heifer that had been specially sacrificed and then burnt. There are many details involved‚ most of them crucial‚ as outlined in Numbers 23 and elaborated on in the ancient Jewish law sources.  The problem is that the last bit of ashes from the last red heifer that met all the requirements was used up nearly two millennia ago.  What is the consequence of that&;#63; It doesn’t affect daily life unless you were to go to the Temple — not your local modern temple‚ but the Temple in Jerusalem built on Mt. Moriah in the place where Isaac was offered as a sacrifice and where Jewish tradition has it that the earth from which Adam was created was taken (“from the place where he was made he finds atonement”). But there is no Temple today‚ so how does that affect anyone&;#63; Jewish law holds that even though the Temple is not standing‚ holiness has never left the Temple site. That is why‚ if you ascend to the top of the Temple Mount‚ you will see signs in several languages noting that it is forbidden by Jewish law to enter the place where the Temple courtyard stood because all are presumed made impure by death and‚ without the ashes of the red heifer‚ that situation cannot be remedied. (READ MORE: A Very Unhappy Anniversary) So‚ the appearance of some heifers which still look to be properly red is the cause of some excitement‚ though of no great plot. If they are raised to the proper age and remain qualified‚ it may be possible to enter the Temple precincts without violating the biblical command. There is nothing to fear from that. After all‚ who does not respect another religion’s holy places in today’s enlightened world&;#63; Just as Jews were finally readmitted to pray in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron‚ where our Patriarchs and Matriarchs are buried‚ and have shared it with our Muslim cousins‚ no doubt something positive and peaceful is attainable here‚ too. If we do not believe it ourselves then let’s rely on the prophecy of Isaiah‚ who declared in God’s voice‚ “For My House will be called a House of Prayer for all peoples.” The post No‚ Red Cows Won’t Spark War in Israel appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Never Say You’ve Had a Lucky Life: Especially If You’ve Had a Lucky Life By Joseph Epstein (Free Press‚ 269 pages‚ $29.99) In the introduction to his autobiography‚ out this month from Free Press (sorry‚ this doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay for the book)‚ writer Joseph Epstein apologizes for having the audacity to chronicle his quiet life. He needn’t have. Those of us‚ your servant included‚ who’ve enjoyed Epstein’s insightful and amusing essays and short stories over the decades see no need to justify learning how Joseph Epstein became Joseph Epstein. How a smart-aleck high school kid in Chicago‚ more interested in sports and impressing girls than in books‚ became one of the most charming writers of the last half-century and change. A writer William F. Buckley Jr. dubbed “the wittiest writer alive.” (WFB‚ Jr. certainly knew witty.) “Over what is now a long life‚ I did little‚ saw nothing notably historic‚ and endured not much out of the ordinary of anguish or trouble or exaltation‚” Epstein informs us on page one. Well‚ our Epstein is having us on a bit here. His life has indeed been quiet. He’s never heroically led men in battle‚ stopped crime waves‚ rescued people from burning buildings‚ set athletic records‚ starred on the silver screen‚ or led a political movement. But his intellectual and literary achievements have been quietly extraordinary. Epstein’s long life — he’s 87 now — began during the butt-end of the Great Depression and has‚ so far‚ spanned a world war‚ the marvelous and atypical 50s‚ the tantrums and bad clothes of the 60s and 70s‚ and the current therapeutic and scratchy PC morass we find ourselves tangled in now. He shows no signs of slowing down. He still regularly contributes essays‚ reviews‚ and op-ed pieces to the nation’s top publications. Regular readers of the Wall Street Journal‚ Commentary‚ and National Review needn’t wait too long to encounter the Epstein byline. (I’m pleased to say Epstein’s work has also appeared in The American Spectator.) “Getting decently paid to express one’s opinions keeps one from being perpetually ticked off or dragged down by the state of the world and the majority of dopes who seem to be in charge of it‚” Epstein writes in Lucky Life. Just so.     For more than half a century‚ in more than 30 books including witty and amusing essay collections‚ elegant short stories‚ and single-subject tomes like Charm‚ Gossip‚ and Snobbery‚ Epstein has parsed the triumphs and peccadilloes‚ the genius and the idiocies of the most fascinating times of the most fascinating country on the planet. Epstein is a generalist in the best sense of the word. He will sometimes take on the big issues of the day — deconstructing the therapeutic culture‚ the politicization of the liberal arts at universities and in book publishing‚ and child-obsessed‚ helicopter parents‚ just to name three. A well-read man with a literary approach to life‚ Epstein is also a defender of the value and charm of competitive sports‚ about which he is savvy and voluble. While he can be serious about serious matters‚ his default stance and style is an amused and amusing outlook‚ always readable‚ and never in a hurry. He can shed light accessibly on Anton Chekhov‚ Henry James‚ or Joseph Conrad. (In an antic mood he described Conrad as Henry James for people who like the outdoors. Perfect.)  But he’s more likely to write about more familiar quotidian pleasures and peccadilloes of daily life. But people who’ve read Epstein‚ or my reviews of his work that have appeared in this space over the years‚ already know this. And they likely would enjoy reading of young Epstein’s various rites of passage in a Chicago that was not the free fire zone that it is now‚ his intellectual awakening in the University of Chicago‚ his time as a draftee in the peacetime army‚ his stint as an administrator of one of those federal anti-poverty programs in Arkansas where he learned the limitations of both government and misdirected idealism‚ his time as a college teacher (without benefit of advanced degree) where he was generally popular with his students but much less so with fellow faculty. This last could be explained by his essays with titles such as “The Academic Zoo‚” “Lower Education‚” and “Who Killed the Liberal Arts‚” where Epstein tears strips off of our current dumbed-down and highly political universities and the vacuous cultural phantasms they flog. Epstein rarely writes about partisan politics. When he does he makes more sense than those who do it for a living. He doesn’t cotton to labels such as liberal and conservative and doesn’t identify as Democrat or Republican. He says he likes to think of himself as being a member of the select Anti-BS Party. His personal politics‚ he says‚ are mainly attempting to protect himself from other people’s politics. (Amen‚ Brother. In the current political climate‚ this could be a full-time job.) Too often autobiographies are an exercise in lily-gilding or score-settling. Not a hint of these here. In his apologetic introduction‚ Epstein quotes George Orwell as saying that an autobiography “is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful.” Nothing of this in Lucky Life. Perhaps Epstein has nothing disgraceful to declare. Or perhaps‚ the traditional Epstein‚ who admits to being behind the times and comfortable being so‚ still clings to the idea that certain things need not‚ in fact shouldn’t‚ be shared with the world‚ even in an autobiography. Better not to sign off without dealing with the puzzling title. Epstein considers his life to this point to have been very lucky. But luck‚ Epstein reminds us‚ can and often does change without notice. Since 1970‚ Epstein has not had to go to an office and has been able to spend hours every day reading and then making a living by writing about whatever he’s interested in. In so doing he’s attracted a thoughtful and devoted readership numbering in the thousands. How many thousands‚ neither Epstein nor I have a clue. (But not as many as his work deserves.) Great good luck I’d call this‚ both for Epstein and for his readers. In his introduction‚  Epstein wrote: “I hope this autobiography. like a good novel‚ will remind its readers how unpredictable‚ various‚ and wondrously rich life‚ even and outwardly quiet life‚ can be.” I found that it does. The post Joseph Epstein’s and His Readers’ Lucky Literary Life appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

from Schiff Gold: Since Nayib Bukele became president of El Salvador‚ El Salvador has been in American media and global political discussion more than ever. While much of the attention focuses on Bukele’s mass incarceration of gang members and a decline in homicide of over 70%‚ Bukele has also drawn attention to his favoritism towards Bitcoin […]

by Martin Armstrong‚ Armstrong Economics: Please reside in a state that stands with your current political allegiance. This week has proved that the rule of law is no longer applicable to the whole of the United States. We are no longer united. In California‚ pro-Hamas fools blocked off the Golden Gate Bridge for hours as […]

from Lunar Landing Discussions:  TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Geoffrey Grinder‚ Now The End Begins: Pro-Hamas protesters in dozens of cities across America are participating in the ‘Global Strike for Gaza’ and ‘Stop The World For Gaza’ today‚ funding comes from George Soros All across America today‚ frustrated commuters were stopped for hours by Pro-Hamas supporters who united to ‘stop the world for […]

In the constellation of Hollywood’s golden era‚ few stars have burned as brightly and faded as quickly as James Dean. Born on February 8‚ 1931‚ in Marion‚ Indiana‚ Dean’s rise to cinematic fame was as meteoric as his tragic demise‚ which came just 24 years later. Raised primarily in Fairmount‚ Indiana‚ after the death of his mother‚ Dean developed a passion for drama and the creative arts during his school years. His early foray into the world of acting led him to the prestigious Actors Studio in New York‚ where he honed the craft under Lee Strasberg’s tutelage‚ embracing the method acting approach that would later define his career. Dean’s breakthrough came with the 1955 film “East of Eden‚” an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel. His portrayal of the emotionally complex Cal Trask earned him a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor‚ a rare honor and a testament to his profound impact on audiences and critics alike. This was followed by two more iconic roles: as the troubled teenager Jim Stark in “Rebel Without a Cause” and as the disaffected ranch hand Jett Rink in “Giant.” Both films cemented his reputation as a symbol of youthful angst and disillusionment in post-war America. Off-screen‚ Dean was known for his eclectic interests‚ from bullfighting literature to jazz music‚ and his love for fast cars. His passion for racing and automobiles was well-known‚ contributing to his legend but also to his untimely demise. Dean’s life came to an abrupt end on September 30‚ 1955‚ when his Porsche collided with another vehicle in Cholame‚ California. His death was an ironic echo of the restless‚ risk-taking characters he portrayed. James Dean’s career was brief‚ his life shorter‚ but his legacy is undiminished. In just three films‚ he crafted an enduring image of youthful defiance and vulnerability that continues to resonate with generations. His performances‚ marked by an intense realism‚ helped set a new standard for actors and remain a high benchmark for the art of cinema. Even decades after his death‚ Dean remains a figure of fascination‚ embodying the forever young and forever rebellious spirit of the silver screen. The post James Dean: Spectacular photos of a screen legend first appeared on History Defined.