Topics for this week's blog: social equality; a "fresh face" for 2016?; Libya, Iraq, & IS; the first hat in the ring.

Social (in)equality. In a recent column,  George Will takes note of a growing problem: the great educational divide.  In "Social inequality's deepening roots," he writes, "By 2012, there were 2.8 million more women than men in college, and by 2020 this “enrollment gap” is projected to grow to 4.4 million as women account for 74 percent of enrollment growth." To whom will all these college educated women be attracted?
     Nor does E. J. Dionne believe that Republicans are truly concerned -- or at least they are not proffering credible plans to address "the vexing intersection of wage stagnation, declining social mobility and rising inequality." He notes the lack of any stated plan from Republicans, Sen-s. Cruz and Rubio, or even Mitt Romney.
     As for budgets proposed by Senate and House Republicans, Robert Greenstein (of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) notes that on other low-income programs, the Senate budget proposal has even more than the House's. The vagueness of these plans makes it hard to tally how much damage would be done to food stamps, Pell Grants for low-income college students and the like, but Greenstein estimates that about two-thirds of the cuts in both plans come "from programs for the less fortunate, thereby exacerbating poverty and inequality."

A fresh face for 2016.  David Shribman, executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recently wrote a column, "In search of a fresh face for 2016." I agree! Several names being bandied about would be "fresh" only in the sense that they have never run for president.
     Shribman asks readers to consider this dichotomy. "The latest Wall Street Journal/​NBC News Poll showed that, by an astonishing 21-point margin (59 percent to 38 percent), the public says it prefers a president with new ideas and vision rather than one with experience." He continues,

That’s why there is inherent tension in this election. The two most prominent figures are not only members of their party establishments but also are coming to this race from traditional bases, including the State Department, which has provided six presidents, and the nation’s governors’ offices, which, if you include territorial and district governorships (Andrew Jackson [military governor Florida], William Henry Harrison [governor Indiana Territory], William Howard Taft [provisional governor of Cuba and governor general of the Philippines] ), have provided nearly half the presidents. The Journal/​NBC poll shows that, by more than two-to-one, the public considers Mr. Bush more a figure of the past than a candidate of new ideas and, by a smaller 7-point margin (51 percent to 44 percent), considers Ms. Clinton the same way.

Libya, Iraq and IS. Serious foreign affairs questions. Albert R. Hunt, senior writer at Bloomberg news, suggests that  

[e]very presidential candidate should face pressure to answer, explicitly, these two questions: Given what we now know, was it right or wrong to invade Iraq in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein and, eight years later, to help topple the regime of Muammar Qaddafi in Libya?
Force the contenders to skip the partisan talking points and make them provide an inkling of a would-be president's instincts about military interventions. The Iraq invasion was undertaken by the brother of the leading 2016 Republican candidate. The Libya operations were advanced by the Democratic front-runner.

He's #1.... Sen. Ted Cruz (R, TX) and the fun has just begun? At least one conservative columnist, Jennifer Rubin, weighed in quickly with a column, "Why Cruz's presidential run is absurd, but important." She notes his lack of legislative experience and appeal to few beyond the far right, saying that "[i]f he were running for gadfly-in-chief he’d win in a landslide. How many more hats and twists and turn to come? Who knows!

Have a good first full week of spring! Last night here in Breckenridge we were treated to 4-6" of snow, something to "freshen" the slopes!

Long delayed: March 17, 2015  Topics for this blog: celebrating the green in Breckenridge; alone at home; Hillary's latest dilemma; spring 2015.

Once again, that "green day" rolled around. Hopefully, everyone enjoyed a hearty St. Patrick's day. We celebrated in Breckenridge where there will be the usual small, but exuberant gathering along Main Street. Everyone is Irish and, in the current climate of inconclusiveness, this includes everyone. We celebrated with friend John and Martin, an Englishman who spends winters working with Guest Services in Breckenridge.

Our Swedish visitors departed in late February having enjoyed their 4th CO ski vacation, spending two days in Vail. The Chicago-based Jensens arrive on April Fool's Day; we have our fingers crossed that the snow will be good.

Hillary's latest drama. One wonders where it will all end. One wag opines that come the final apocalypse all that will remain will be the Clintons and the ultimate survivalists, the cockroaches. The Clinton saga began with Whitewater and has now continued to "email-gate". Everything the Clinton's touch seems to develop a least a bit of scandal. There has to be a better alternative for the Democratic party! If not, more's the pity for our two party system.

2016: a national security election? If so, there will be fiscal consequences. If taxes are not raised, monies will have to be shifted from domestic programs at a time when there is increasing concern about income inequity if America.
     In 2008 Mr Obama told unhappy Americans what many wanted to hear: that by doing less overseas their country would be safer. Republicans with ambitions for 2016 are pitching a more bracing message: that America must do more to be safe.
     Later in this same article, Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to NATO, notes that for voters  “...foreign policy is really a metaphor for leadership. Does this person make me proud for America, or make me upset?”

Spring has come. Officially at 4:45pm (MDST). Here in Breckenridge, it has been a sunny first day. Unusual weather patterns in the last few weeks have meant melting snow at lower altitudes, but nearby peaks and higher ski runs remain white. The recent wet snow has "stuck" at the higher altitudes. The warm weather would normally mean that Mount Baldy, across the valley from Breckenridge, would be turning brown, but it remains bright white.