NEWS AND OPINION:
The protests keep on coming, just like clockwork. After President Trump took office, women in pink “pussy” hats with multiple causes marched. The following weekend protesters angry over immigration policy descended on the nation’s airports. On Saturday angry Floridians plan their own outcry, just as Mr. Trump takes a little break this weekend in the Sunshine State, meeting first lady Melania Trump and son Barron at Mar-a-Lago, his estate in Palm Beach. The first couple will also attend a Red Cross charity event. The locals, however, have organized “March to Mar-a-Lago for Humanity,” a noisy trek from Trump Plaza downtown to a holding area on a small island within a few thousand feet of what’s now dubbed the Winter White House. The activists claim thousands of marchers will participate “united against minority rule by the radical-right and their fascist political agenda.”
And law enforcement?
“We are going to try to create as much space for them as long as they don’t block the roadways. There are some groups that will be participating that might try to be disruptive and aren’t exactly willing to work with law enforcement,” Palm Beach Public Safety Director Kirk Blouin told the Palm Beach Post. “Most of the people we have spoken to, they are very reasonable and they want to get their message out. We are concerned about the few knuckleheads that want to create a chaotic atmosphere.”
FOR THE LEXICON
“Post Trump Success Disorder”
— Convenient phrase for new condition affecting liberals, protesters, Hollywood stars and most of the news media, originated by Daily Mail columnist Piers Morgan, who offers this definition: “This is an awful affliction that causes victims to lose the power of calm, rational thought and instead resort to uncontrollable, unrelenting outbursts of shrieking, screaming, wailing and teeth-gnashing. Every single thing President Trump now does, says or tweets is greeted by instant paralysis of perspective. He is, and must remain, a monster. There’s just one problem: the majority of people don’t seem to actually agree with this assessment.”
HILLARY’S INSTANT COMEBACK
President Obama was weighing in on national affairs only 10 days after President Trump assumed office. So it is no surprise that Hillary Clinton has re-emerged onto the public stage as well. The former presidential hopeful already has three speaking engagements lined up with Harry Walker, the exclusive Manhattan-based agency that represents a dizzying array of celebrities, media folk and politicians — including former President Bill Clinton. This is familiar territory — and lucrative. Between them, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton made $153 million on paid speeches in recent years, this according to CNN.
Then there’s the inevitable book. Mrs. Clinton has a new contract with Simon & Schuster to write her sixth book — a collection of personal essays combined with her favorite quotes — “words to live by,” Mrs. Clinton says. That sounds like the likely title, but no matter. Mrs. Clinton vows to reflect on good times, bad times and “absurd times” of her political career.
“Instead of writing a self-serving book about her own hard times, Clinton should write an apology to Democrats and progressives,” wrote Michael Sainato, a columnist for The Observer.
But such is life for prominent politicians. Mr. Obama and wife Michelle Obama are also said to have book projects; The New York Times estimated the two could land a $45 million publishing contact for their memoirs.
HAPPY STATES, MISERABLE STATES
Analysts with 24/7WallSt.com have determined which of the 50 states are the happiest and which are the most distraught. They based their determination of national “well-being” on a cross section of data from Gallup, the U.S. Census, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Agriculture, the FBI, the Department of Labor and other sources. The researchers gauged “sense of purpose,” employment, poverty and obesity rates; and educational attainment — among other factors. Here’s some of what they found:
The top 10 happiest states put Hawaii at No. 1, followed by Alaska, South Dakota, Maine, Colorado, Vermont, Arizona, Minnesota, Montana and Florida. And the bottom states, deemed “most miserable”: In 40th place, Michigan, followed by Mississippi, Rhode Island, Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma and West Virginia, in last.
MR. O’REILLY’S TOUCHDOWN
Super Bowl pre-game programming on Sunday includes a significant interview with President Trump, conducted by Fox News prime-time kingpin Bill O’Reilly. He’s had experience: Mr. O’Reilly conducted similar interviews with former President Obama during Super Bowls in 2011 and 2014. The stakes are very high here: Mr. Trump appears to draw as big an audience as the Super Bowl these days, and has both irked and mesmerized the news media two weeks into his presidency.
“I would say it’s the most important interview of my life. There is so much happening and so much controversy and so many things in play. I need to get to the heart of the matter, and I will,” Mr. O’Reilly told Variety.
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
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POLL DU JOUR
• 70 percent of Americans say “being able to speak our national language” is very important for “being truly American”; 83 percent of Republicans, 67 percent of independents and 61 percent of Democrats agree.
• 45 percent say “sharing national customs and traditions” is very important; 60 percent of Republicans, 40 percent of independents and 38 percent of Democrats agree.
• 32 percent say being born in the U.S. is very important; 35 percent of Republicans, 32 percent of independents and 29 percent of Democrats agree.
• 32 percent say being a Christian is very important; 43 percent of Republicans, 29 percent of independents and 26 percent of Democrats agree.
Source: A Pew Research Global Attitudes Survey of 1,003 U.S. adults conducted April 4-24 and released Wednesday.
• Guffaws and snickers to jharper@washingtontimes.com
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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