Dear Jolters, Opening Day approaches, but before that we must deal with Easter eggs, and before that, well, another Morning Jolt. As you know, the Jimmy G is on vacation, and has left MJ bat in the miserable hands of this pinch hitter, speaking of which . . . 
For the longest time the baseball record for most career pinch hits was held by . . . a pitcher! Yes, Fred Lucas -- aka "Red," aka "The Nashville Narcissus" (sounds kinds Trumpian) -- hurled mostly for the Red and Pirates in the 20s and 30s, and was so adept with the lumber (lifetime batting average of .281) that he was often called upon in a pinch, and had 114 pinch hits in his career (his record stood until the 1960s). Fred/Red was also rarely taken out of a game, because of his batting talent, and consequently he led the NL three years in complete games (he once threw 27 consecutive complete games, mama mia). That's your baseball history lesson for the day. Now, on to NRO, the font of conservative wisdom. Like yesterday, I will recommend three items for you to read today. And to share, please. The first: My pal Victor Davis Hanson has a piece that is sure to make the rounds, "Ten Commandments for the Next Commander in Chief." I'll share the Fourth Commandment: Do not publicly insult foreign leaders -- whether enemies or friends. Avoid ridiculing Russian president Vladimir Putin as some sort of class cut-up, or Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an insensitive ideologue, or France's then-president Nicolas Sarkozy as a showboater, or British prime minister David Cameron as ineffectual. Even presidents and prime ministers are creatures of emotion. Enemy strongmen, once insulted, are more likely to cause gratuitous problems. Friendly leaders will keep their distance if they feel the president of the United States is an adolescent name-caller. Inspiration demands elevation; the commonplace earns contempt. The second: Were you sickened by the image of Barack the First posing in Havana with a massive Che Guevara image looming in the background? Really, is this some bad dream? Rich Lowry's excellent column critiquing Obama's windfall for an oppressive and brutal regime is a must-read. The third: The heated reaction to Kevin Williamson's blockbuster essay, "The Father Fuhrer" (on chaos amidst America's white working class), continues, with the volume knob turned to ten. In the Corner, David French posts a powerful reaction to critiques of his previous defense of KDW's essay. I suggest you read David's latest, and initial, takes. Yes America, something indeed is happening across the fruited plains and shaking under the purple mountain majesties. It's Holy Week -- maybe the thought of prayer has crossed your mind. We'll catch you tomorrow (Spy Wednesday!). Take your base! Jack Fowler P.S.: Yes, I want you to go to www.nrcruise.com and reserve your cabin on the NR Post-Election Cruise. Now go do that before you forget.  | 
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