Grapevine: WaPo sides with conservative graduation speakers

Article encourages students to embrace the speeches

And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine…

Liberal Arts

Graduation season is in full swing and one survey finds -- unsurprisingly so -- that liberals outnumber conservative as commencement speakers.
What is surprising -- the headline in the Washington Post--

'Why conservatives give better commencement speeches than liberals'

The article draws from Zev Chafets' collection of commencement speeches -- 'Remembering Who We Are' --
The writer tells students not to protest conservative speakers -- but embrace them.
The reasons are simple -- Conservatives speak to grads as individuals -- give shorter speeches with better stories -- and offer more actionable advice.

Conservatives are also less likely to suck up to new graduates.
Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia -- was one such example of bluntness in 2010 --

"To thine own self be true -- depending upon who you think you are."

Globetrotting

You-- the taxpayer-- might have paid for some European vacations you didn’t go on.
The National Science Foundation is taking heat from Congress for asking for more grant money and a larger budget.
As some lawmakers are questioning money already spent.

For example - a $275,000 study of tourism near the Arctic Circle.
The NSF-- sent folks to Norway to check it out.
The head of the House Science Committee-- says a similar study could have been done in Alaska -- quote --

'Americans are tired of writing a blank check to the NSF to pay for foreign vacations.'

The House is scheduled to vote next week on the budget increase request from the foundation.

Good Samaritans

Finally -- an outpouring of kindness.
81-year-old Clarence Blackmon returned home after months in the hospital -- to an empty refrigerator.
Hungry and desperate-- he called 911.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Blackmon: Whatever you can do to help, I can't do anything, I can't go anywhere, I can't get out of my damn chair.

The 911 operator -- with the help of police officers -- delivered groceries to the starving veteran.
The good deed went viral -- and people stepped up.
He has so much food now -- he is sharing it with a local food bank.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Blackmon: It was like a little miracle ringing in my ear, I thought Jesus you have answered all those those prayers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Blackmon will soon have a home nurse-- to check on him twice a week