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1.) Cruzin’ for a brusin’ — OK. That actually doesn’t make much sense. TheDC Morning just wanted to write that headline to be honest. But Alan Dershowitz says when you mess with Ted Cruz, you’re crusin’ for an intellectual bruisin’. Charles Johnson reports for TheDC:
“Famed Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz ranks Sen. Ted Cruz among the school’s smartest students adding that the Canada-born Texan can run for president in 2016. Cruz was a ‘terrific student,’ Dershowitz told The Daily Caller. ‘He was always very active in class, presenting a libertarian point of view. He didn’t strike me as a social conservative, more of a libertarian.’ … Cruz ‘was an outstanding student in my class,’ Dershowitz said. ‘Without a doubt he is among the smartest students I’ve ever had… I’ve had great students but he has to be at the top of anyone’s short list, in terms of raw brain power.'”
Good for Cruz. But just a reminder, being smart doesn’t always equal being wise.
2.) Al-Qaida Inspired — Apparently al-Qaida is not so nice an organization. TheDC’s Patrick Howley reports:
“The Council on American-Islamic Relations said Thursday in written testimony that alleged Boston Marathon bombers Tamerlan and Dzhokar Tsarnaev were influenced by al-Qaeda. ‘The Marathon’s accused bombers, Tamerlan, 26, and Dzhokhar, 19, Tsarnev, journey to violent extremism had in part begun online through social networking sites linked to al-Qaeda-inspired videos and content,’ according to CAIR’s written testimony for Thursday’s House Homeland Security Committee hearing on the April 15 Boston attacks. ‘Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has told investigators that he and his brother learned to build the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used in the Boston attacks from the English language online magazine Inspire, circulated by al Qaeda’s Yemen branch, and were influenced partly by the online sermons of Anwar al Awlaki, an al Qaeda linked leader,’ according to CAIR’s testimony.”
3.) Eat those tacos — Some people don’t want you to eat tacos on Cinco de Mayo. Actual Mexicans think that’s crazy. The Daily Caller News Foundation’s Robby Soave reports:
“Northwestern University continued to stumble over diversity issues this week as Mexican students voiced disagreement with a campuswide letter that advised students not to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by engaging in racially-offensive activities, such as eating tacos and drinking tequila. The letter was sent to students via e-mail, and published in The Daily Northwestern last week. Leaders of Alianza, a Latino student group, and the Associated Student Government called on students to remember that Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s victory over France in the Battle of Puebla. It is not a day to throw a sombrero-themed party, they said. …Their recommendations were quite a shock to Northwestern students who actually came from Mexico. Several of them fired back recently. ‘I’d like to say that I proudly embrace my tacos, tequila and sombreros,’ wrote Ruben Antonio Marcos Bours, a Northwestern student, in a statement. ‘To me, they are a key part of my childhood, growing up in Monterrey, Mexico.'”
4.) War of Words — Ted Cruz faces off against John McCain in a fierce fake email argument. TheDC’s Jamie Weinstein and Will Rahn “report”:
“I understand that you came to the Senate looking to shake things up, and while that’s all well and good, you should understand that we abide by certain standards here in the world’s greatest deliberative body. For example, it is generally considered impolite for a freshman to call an older senator a ‘pussy,’ particularly when the senator in question is a decorated war veteran, and the freshman is a slouching little lady-man who went to Harvard. It is likewise considered uncouth to push older senators down the stairs, as you did with Sen. Hatch, and call them ‘sugar tits,’ as you did with Sen. Reid.”
Read the rest and be mystified.
5.) Tweet of Yesterday — David Burge: Pretty damn impressive, NY. Nearly 1/4 of your dominant political party’s state senate delegation facing jail. IL tips its collective hat.
6.) Today in North Korean News — BREAKING: “Tree Planting Gains Momentum in DPRK”