NEWS AND OPINION:
The National Republican Congressional Committee has created an official “thank you note to President Trump” meant for use by his admiring fans — who can sign the online outreach or donate to the Republican cause. The suggested letter does not hold back.
“Dear President Trump: God bless you! After your historic victory, we wanted to send you this letter to make sure you feel our love, prayers, and gratitude. So let us start by saying, from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!” says the opening paragraph.
“Thank you for always fighting for us and for giving a voice to everyday, hard working Americans. Thank you for standing up to the Radical Left lunatics that want to destroy our country and our America First movement,” the letter said.
“And thank you for never surrendering, no matter what they threw at you. We know that they were never really after you, they were after us - but you were standing in the way. We hope you know that: We will never stop fighting for you. We will never stop praying for you. And we will never stop loving you,” it continued, the last few vows written in Trumpian all-capital letters.
“On this day, I hope you feel the love and prayers of the millions of patriotic Americans who will always have your back. And I hope you know that our movement is more committed than ever to Making America Great Again. They have tried before, and they will try again, but they will never stop our America First Movement,” the letter advised.
“Thank you, President Trump, for everything. May God bless and keep you President Trump,” the letter concluded.
The National Republican Congressional Committee is a political committee devoted to increasing the number of Republicans in the House of Representatives.
FOR THE LEXICON
“Trump’s shock and awe.”
This four-word phrase comes to us from Axios, which offered a lengthy analysis of President-elect Donald Trump’s plans when he returns to the White House.
“Why it matters: Trump advisers are running out of words to describe what’s coming in January. They say he feels empowered and emboldened, vindicated and validated, and eager to stretch the boundaries of power,” said the analysis by Axios co-founders Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei.
Meanwhile, Here’s the definition of “shock and awe” from the Oxford Dictionary, just in case you need a reminder:
“Shock and awe: Term for a military strategy based on achieving rapid dominance over an adversary by the initial imposition of overwhelming force and firepower. The concept was formulated by the American strategic analysts Harlan K. Ullman and James P. Wade in a Pentagon briefing document of 1996, and came to wider prominence during the campaign in Iraq in 2003. In a briefing in Qatar in March 2003, the American general Tommy Franks said, ‘This will be a campaign unlike any other in history. A campaign characterized by shock, by surprise, by flexibility, and the employment of precise munitions on a scale never before seen, and by the application of overwhelming force,’” the dictionary said.
SCIENCE CORNER
“The oldest known firearm in the U.S. unearthed in Arizona,” a new report from Popular Science stated.
“A bronze cannon recently recovered by researchers in Arizona appears to be the oldest known firearm ever found in the continental United States. According to experts, analysis indicates the 40-pound weapon was likely owned by one of history’s most famous and notorious conquistadors, although he may never have fired it in battle,” wrote staff writer Andrew Paul.
That conquistador was Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, and his expedition happened around 1540, he said.
“The conquistador and his remaining men didn’t pack all their belongings before returning to the then-Spanish settlement, however. According to the authors of a study published on November 21st in the International Journal of Historical Archeology, one site in particular has yielded numerous artifacts linked to the explorers,” Mr. Paul wrote in his report, published Nov. 26.
“In the ruins of a stone and adobe structure located in Arizona’s Santa Cruz Valley, researchers discovered olive jar and glass shards, European pottery, and weapon components — including the 42-inch-long bronze cannon,” he said.
“Unlike more ornate Spanish cannons, however, the wall gun’s plain casting indicates it may have actually been constructed in Mexico or the Caribbean — and may have even been purchased from Ponce de Leon’s preceding expedition,” Mr. Paul said.
IVY-COVERED HALLS
Education grows ever more interesting, it seems.
“Smith College students can take a course on ’Marxist Feminism’ in the spring semester as part of the school’s formal Program for the Study of Women, Gender & Sexuality. Smith College is a private women’s liberal arts college in western Massachusetts,” wrote Brendan McDonald, a correspondent for Campus Reform, a student-written news organization.
“According to the course description, Marxist feminism begins with the ’simple insight’ that ’capitalism relies on the class politics of unpaid, reproductive women’s work. Based on this understanding, Marxist feminists have combated systems of power and oppression, including ’patriarchy, slavery, feudalism and colonialism,’” he said.
Mr. McDonald also noted that a University of Utah course is teaching students about “Feminist Cannabis Studies,” while the New York-based New School is offering studies on how “(eco)feminism and (eco)Marxism are appropriate replacements for capitalism.”
POLL DU JOUR
• 10% of adults in 32 countries say they are “living comfortably” these days.
• 27% say they are “doing alright” when it comes to managing their finances these days.
• 33% say they are “just getting by” financially these days.
• 18% say they are “finding it difficult” to manage their finances these days.
• 10% say they are finding it “very difficult” to manage their finances these days.
SOURCE: An Ipsos Global Advisor poll of 22,270 adults conducted online Oct. 25 and Nov. 8. The sample consists of 1,000 individuals each in Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and the U.S., plus 500 individuals each in Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and Turkey.
• Contact Jennifer Harper at Jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.