The Occasional Observer

From Mansome:

Despite the CW being parroted around in the MSM that "Hillary!" is unbeatable in 2016, we have the following poll results in from Q:

Link

Remember this is a state that Obama carried twice.  Also, it is likely that the GOP candidates included in this poll, while not unknowns,  do not have the name recognition of the former FLOTUS/Senator/SecState.

This will, IMO, be a nettlesome issue for the GOP in '16.   No one will get nominated without earning the support of (at least a meaningful slice of) the evangelical/socially conservative wing of the party.  The leverage of SoCons in the early states, esp. Iowa, SC, FL is just too large.  That said, a message of "the gays are after your kids' minds" might fly in an Iowa GOP straw poll, but not in a general election (again, IMO).

How to negotiate these straits?

All credit to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who did a good thing by drafting a former blue-chip prospect, Cory Hahn, who was paralyzed from the chest down playing college baseball. A good decision that may also turn out to be a smart decision for the franchise, although to see why, you may have to "change your eye level" (to use some baseball terminology) and see the bigger picture.

Ultimately, they did this because they deeply respected Cory Hahn and his family, and wanted to pay him tribute. They selected him in the 34th round in honor of his jersey number (34). But this was not merely ceremonial. They also plan to try and employ him in the organization, in some capacity.

Hahn is already acting as an instructor for his former baseball team.  It's not hard to imagine that his words, example, his mere presence, will provide a massive dose of motivation to 18 and 19 year olds in the farms. Especially as the long grind to the show starts to wear on them.

Poor A-ball kid... Think you've got an impossible climb? Take advantage of your situation. 
Carpe diem. 

Kudos to the DBacks. Congratulations to Cory Hahn. And Solid Citizen awards to Ray Montgomery and Derrick Hall for allowing their hearts to lead them off the beaten path, to a decision that is good. In the moral sense. And may turn out to be good. In the utilitarian sense.

I am stunned by the scope of the damage in Moore. The area impacted is just enormous. The utter destruction of the homes in the path of the tornado is worse than I'd imagine it in a nightmare.

Watched the video below this morning. A bit of warmth amidst all the sorrow.  I'm struck by how composed this woman is, at her age, despite being confronted by the complete destruction of everything she owns and knows:

"I know exactly what happened here. Exactly."

"All too easy."

Link to Varvel cartoon

Karl Rove's Crossroads PAC dials it down to the essentials. And the details are still coming.

Link.

Godspeed, Baroness Thatcher.  You will be sorely missed.