The McLaughlin Group - April 30th - CBS NY + PBS Nationwide

FULL EPISODE

My time linked comments:

Cruz is helped by Fiorina pick and supported by Republicans because Trump is feared. GOP has imploded (referenced column)

Debating with Pat over whether Cruz or Trump has earned GOP nomination

Disagreeing with Pat that Trump's speech was in the vein of Eisenhower/Reagan!

Cruz won't give up after Indiana, Crockett (re: Dr. M's Alamo reference) lives another day!

Minimum wage raises marginal cost of labor and hurts employment

California to Texas exodus of capital is proof of liberal governance failure and minimum wage will price out market entry for young (relevant Opportunity Lives article)

The left is weaponizing bathroom laws for political effect, but people should use bathroom of birth-sex or post-operative sex - because of compelling state interests

For effective public interest balancing, we need clear rules on bathroom access, joke with Pat about my US citizenship!

Problem is not LGBT bathroom users, but malevolents who use law for own interests

Laughing at Dr. M's persistent questioning on bathroom etiquette!

Georgia's non-abortion health services funding law is not controversial, nor should it be

Agreeing that Trump's opinions are variable!

FORCED PREDICTION: Bernie Sanders will remain in race, but Clinton tensions are growing

A 5 Point Plan for GOP Redemption

My latest @ Opportunity Lives: A 5 Point Plan for GOP Redemption

Iraq

My essay @ National Review: Why Obama's Iraq Policy is Collapsing

Citizens United

My latest @ Opportunity Lives on How Citizens United is Legitimated

The McLaughlin Group - April 23rd - CBS-NY + PBS Nationwide

Full episode

My time linked comments:

Passing Dr. McLaughlin's challenge on my knowledge of Afghanistan! Suggesting US strategy going forwards should focus on helping Afghan government establish control of major highways + cities

Pat says Afghanistan was stable under Taliban, I note Al Qaeda haven under Taliban

Eleanor says Iraq invasion was great strategic mistake, I note that President Obama's 2011 withdrawal was also a grave error. (Note: SOFA extension could have been reached)

Noting that Vice President Biden's artificial caps on troop deployments are unhelpful - we must be able to effectively train, advise and assist

Schools in rural areas are no longer the priority in Afghanistan - realism demands we re-focus on securing cities and defeating irreconcilables

How Putin is playing the US for a fool in Syria

Putin becomes more dangerous now that Russia's economy is in crisis (I smile because Pat doesn't agree with me that Russia is a US foe - I respect his opinion, I just disagree)

Off camera - Challenging Pat about the Baltic states as worthwhile - NATO

Why Assad staying in power directly threatens US - fuels Daesh - attacks Brussels...

Responding to Dr. M's question as to whether Putin is at risk of a Coup d'etat

Israeli settlement construction feeds BS narratives of Hamas as a 'Che Guevara' cool resistance. Thus degrading Israel's rightful moral legitimacy in international public opinion

Exit Question: A) Two-State Solution is in suspended animation

President Obama's executive action on immigration is hypocritical and against the tradition of American governance

Congress either has a role in American life or it doesn't, if President Obama can wave laws as he wishes on a whim, why don't we get rid of Congress?

Predicting that Trump and Clinton will win all 5 states on Tuesday

Environment

My latest @ Opportunity Lives: 

Oceans of Opportunity, A Roadmap for Conservative Environmentalism

Saud

New @ National Review: Why and How America Must Restore Influence With Saudi Arabia

RAL

New @ Opportunity Lives: George Clooney and the Willful Delusion of Rich Activist Liberals

The McLaughlin Group - April 16th - CBS-NY + PBS Nationwide

FULL EPISODE

My time linked comments:

Saudi Arabia is a poor ally - but we must keep US orbit to prevent greater extremism

Theorizing that Iran deal is reason why Obama hasn't declassified 28 pages

Houthi forces in Yemen are proximate to Iran

Getting over-excited in agreement with Pat about declassifying 28 pages

Saudi govt. has bad + good actors, realist key = empower good actors (ex. Adel + bin Nayef)

Colorado delegate games are pathetic, but convention delegate deals are conventional!

Bernie has to fight super delegates

Predicting Cruz will be GOP nominee

Education budgets are stretched and US citizens must be prioritized

FORCED PREDICTION 1: US will not follow Canada in legalizing euthanasia

Joking with Dr. M about Jesuit responsibility towards definitive, if subjective, positions!

FORCED PREDICTION 2: Congress will authorize President Obama's Zika funding request

Putin

My latest @ National Review: Putin's Gun vs. Obama's Pen

Homeless

My latest @ Opportunity Lives: 4 Conservative Ways to Better Support the Homeless

Buck

Speaking with Buck Sexton on Russian Strategy (1h1m0s)

Perez

My latest @ Opportunity Lives: Economic Dishonesty from Perez

Canyonlands

Found my scrapbook for a 2004 hike in Canyonlands National Park. Here are two photos!

China Economy

My latest @ Opportunity Lives: The Chinese Dragon is Spitting Fumes - How to Respond

The McLaughlin Group - April 9th - CBS-NY + PBS Nationwide

FULL EPISODE

My time linked comments:

Trump's wall strategy is a Game of Thrones interpretation that does not stack up with reality but for his supporters it doesn't matter, and the way to secure the border is via a digital wall

Reminding my fellow panelists to shut up when Dr. M speaks. And why Sanders is scaring the Clinton campaign

Agreeing with Pat that Sanders strategy resides on false economics - my take on Sanders economics

Trump's defeat in Wisconsin punctured his self-perceived brilliance

Cruz needs Kasich to drop out

Panama Papers shows 3 things: 1) Importance of robust anti-corruption institutions. 2) Putin and Jinping have again been shown to be corrupt authoritarians 3) Importance of corporate tax reform - my article here

NATO is important because it affords security for West, but NATO member states must begin to pull their weight. Exchange with Clarence.

World would be more unstable without NATO

People should be able to eat like pigs, but I do not want to subsidize their medical costs

Banning sugar sodas is stupid - just tax them

Exchange on Trump's health. Why walking and baseball do not alone, an athlete, make!

Force Prediction: Hillary Clinton will win New York

Global Economy

New @ Opportunity Lives: 3 Ways to Help All Americans Succeed in the Global Economy

NSA

My latest @ National Review: Panama Papers Vindicate the NSA

Romania

My latest @ Opportunity Lives: Romania, Europe and the Taken Reality

The McLaughlin Group - April 2nd - CBS-NY, PBS Nationwide

FULL EPISODE

My time linked comments:

President Obama's worldview is deluded, but US-UK tensions relate to understandable US discontent towards Europe

US Military is also dissatisfied with Europe and military spending/capability

Noting that the UK must spend more on defense investment (Pat mentions UK running out of cruise missiles in Libya 2011 campaign), but also UK contributions to US security

The President does not realize that action-words is crucial. Also, Syria stains his Presidency

Noting that President Obama is the Constitutionally empowered Commander-in-Chief (my relevant article)

Brazil scandal shows socialism corruption, popular betrayal, and start of institutions of law

China and the BRICS show why the US is the exceptional nation as a global partner. Followed by exchange with Eleanor on whether the US is the exceptional nation!

ANC has betrayed Mandela's legacy

Disagreeing with Clarence that South Africa has strong institutions

Disagreeing with Eleanor that China, Iran and Russia are adhering to US cyber-deterrent posture

US should invest in Federal Government cyber defense, but also ensure officials do not use personal email

Articulating why free trade is much better than trump trade. And exchange with Pat!

FORCED PREDICTION: Hillary Clinton will lock up delegates prior to convention, Trump will not. But also noting that Hillary emailgate is a big story

Raqqa

My latest @ National Review: 4 reasons to retake Raqqa

California

My latest @ Opportunity Lives: How California Liberals Hurt the Poor