China Hacks Fed Data 

Washington is buzzing with the news that Chinese hackers breached databases at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and accessed the personal information of millions of government employees. According to CNN, workers in "nearly every government agency" are affected. 

The Washington Post reports that this latest cyberattack was the second time in the less than a year that Chinese hackers have attacked OPM. One former FBI cyber official warned:
 

"China is everywhere. They're looking to gain social and economic and political advantage over the United States in any way they can. The easiest way to do that is through theft of intellectual property and theft of sensitive information."

President Obama claimed this week that he had restored America's respect around the world. Really? In virtually every foreign arena -- whether it's ISIS in the Middle East, the failure to restrain Russia in Ukraine or China's increasingly aggressive actions -- our enemies sense Obama's weakness and are projecting their power. 

2016 Update 

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry officially declared his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination yesterday. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is expected to join the race on June 15th and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is planning to make an announcement on June 24th.

This week four new polls were released measuring the state of the GOP race. Consider the results: 
 

• An ABC/Washington Post poll found Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Rand Paul leading the field at 11% each. 
   
• CNN found Rubio leading at 14%. 
   
• Fox News found Bush and Walker atop the field at 12%. 
   
• Reuters had Jeb Bush in first place with 15%. 

  So four polls produced four different "winners" -- Bush, Paul, Rubio and Walker. Clearly, no one is dominating the race. 

  And with so many candidates dividing the vote, the national polls are virtually meaningless at this stage. The 2016 Republican presidential primary will likely be the most unpredictable contest in decades. 

  Socialism In The Sun 

  With an avowed socialist running for president (Vermont's Bernie Sanders) and new polls finding that Millennials are divided in their views of socialism (36% view it favorably) versus capitalism (39% view it favorably), some pundits are suggesting that socialism in America is finally getting its moment in the sun. 

  With that in mind, I want to share with you some observations from Beth Harpaz, travel editor for the Associated Press, who recently returned from a visit to the workers' paradise of Cuba. She provides several tips for potential visitors, such as, "If you need it, bring it." Because they may not have it. 

  Upon landing in Havana, Ms. Harpaz realized she had forgotten her toothbrush. "It took me three days to find a new one," she writes. "Good luck buying sun screen and Band-Aids." 

  But there's more. Harpaz warns that tourists should "be prepared to manage without ATMs, credit cards, Wi-Fi . . . or toilet paper." Yes, you read that last one right. 

  What about all those cool, vintage cars you see on the news? She writes that they might seem "picturesque -- until you're in one with no seat belts, no air-conditioning in 90-degree heat, broken windows, belching smoke and doors that open in transit." 

  It seems that far from making Cuba a paradise, socialism and corruption only led to scarcity. 

  Here's something else to think about. Haiti is one of the most impoverished nations in the Western Hemisphere. At its closest point, Haiti is only about 90 miles from Cuba. 

  American Millennials, many with degrees from the finest educational institutions that America has to offer, may be confused about the relative advantages of socialism and capitalism. But Haitian refugees, free of such "higher learning" have no such confusion. 

  Many Haitians do not choose to flee to communist Cuba. Instead, they risk the far more treacherous 600-mile journey to Florida, hoping and praying to make it to the United States of America, where we have plenty of toothbrushes and toilet paper. 

  Please share this report with your friends and family members, especially if you have a child or grandchild in college who may be enamored with left-wing economics. 

  Remembering D-Day 

  Tomorrow is the 71st anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of France that marked the beginning of the end of World War II. 

  America still has the most powerful military in the world. Its technological sophistication surpasses anything our leaders of 70 years ago could have imagined. But when it comes to having the moral courage to do what needs to be done to triumph over evil, our retreat from the values of the Greatest Generation has been nothing short of breathtaking. 

  Franklin Roosevelt once said that World War II, at its core, was a battle between the cross of Jesus Christ and the crooked cross of the Nazis. Could you imagine our current president saying anything like that? 

  Let me end on a positive note. On D-Day, Roosevelt led the nation in a prayer for the thousands of men crossing the English Channel. Below are some excerpts of FDR's D-Day prayer. Share them with your children as a reminder of America's rich religious heritage and the courage we drew from it. 

  "Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. . . .

  "They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. 

  "And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas . . . help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. . . . And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. . . . Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen."