Along the edge of the Shenandoah National Forest, May 16, 2009.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A PRAGMATIC CONSERVATIVE?
Martin Wolf, writing in the Financial Times:
Professor Steven M. Bainbridge at the UCLA College of Law takes him down. “In what meaningful sense of the word have any of the following been ‘conservative’?”
“That's a conservative agenda?”
Well, in the sense that Obama hasn’t (yet) taken everything, I guess it could be considered “conservative”.
“If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” Thus wrote the Sicilian writer Giuseppe di Lampedusa, in The Leopard. This seems to me the guiding principle of the Obama presidency. To many Americans, he seems a flaming radical. To me, he is a pragmatic conservative, albeit one responding to extraordinary times.
Professor Steven M. Bainbridge at the UCLA College of Law takes him down. “In what meaningful sense of the word have any of the following been ‘conservative’?”
Eviscerating the rule of law in the Chrysler bankruptcy so as to protect favored constituencies (mainly labor) at the expense of those to whom the law gave priority
Becoming a headhunter hiring and firing corporate directors and CEOs
De facto nationalization of the leading financial institutions
Federalizing executive compensation in the financial sector
Preempting state corporate law on issues like selection of boards of directors and compensation of executives
Refusing to let healthy institutions exit TARP
Bullying Chrysler's creditors
Playing shell games with the stress tests
An enormous expansion of the budget and huge budget deficits for as far as the eye can see
Raising the size of the government as a percent of GDP from about 20 to 22 on what seems to be a permanent basis
Planning a de facto federal takeover of health care, which amounts to 17% of the US economy (the public plan will almost certainly squeeze most private insurance out of the market, creating de facto a single payer plan)
“That's a conservative agenda?”
Well, in the sense that Obama hasn’t (yet) taken everything, I guess it could be considered “conservative”.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
MILITARY COMMISSIONS: WE’RE BACK
President Obama is expected to announce the administration's decision to restart Bush-era military tribunals for a small number of Guantanamo detainees Friday.
Every Obama promise comes with an expiration date - every one.
Every Obama promise comes with an expiration date - every one.
OBMACARE IS COMING TO A STORE NEAR YOU
“According to a letter from the FDA, General Mills’ advertising violates the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The agency said claims that Cheerios ingredients can lower cholesterol within a certain amount of time, all while providing cancer-fighting and heart-healthy benefits, essentially makes Cheerios ‘a drug’ by their definition. And no drug in this country can be legally marketed without an approved new drug application.”
”The U.S. Senate is considering levying a tax on sugary soft drinks to help pay for the overhaul of the nation's healthcare system, political sources say. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told the Journal the tax would be fair because such drinks drive up health costs for everyone by contributing to obesity, diabetes and other illnesses.”
Nothing is safe from the health police.
Soon you’ll have to swipe your ObamaCare card for permission to buy Cheerios ... or a soft drink.
And we pay for this?
”The U.S. Senate is considering levying a tax on sugary soft drinks to help pay for the overhaul of the nation's healthcare system, political sources say. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told the Journal the tax would be fair because such drinks drive up health costs for everyone by contributing to obesity, diabetes and other illnesses.”
Nothing is safe from the health police.
Soon you’ll have to swipe your ObamaCare card for permission to buy Cheerios ... or a soft drink.
And we pay for this?
ARE THERE BEARS IN VIRGINIA?
Well, yes, there are.
Picture taken along the edge of the Shenandoah National Forest near Graves Mill, Virginia.
ELEVATOR TALK
Standing in the elevator at work yesterday listening to the riders, it came to me: the District of Columbia (DC) should change its name, to either the District of Arrogance (DA) or District of Snobs (DS).
Arrogance is ill-becoming. So is snobbery.
Or maybe we should just recognize that political correctness has run amuck in the District and just call it PCDC.
Arrogance is ill-becoming. So is snobbery.
Or maybe we should just recognize that political correctness has run amuck in the District and just call it PCDC.
Friday, May 15, 2009
THE AUDACITY OF DOPE
Yesterday, Barack Obama had the nerve to tell students at ASU not to take shortcuts and live on credit:
Translation: "I've already 'borrowed' it for you."
Via Instapundit.
We've become accustomed to our economic dominance in the world, forgetting that it wasn't reckless deals and get-rich-quick schemes that got us where we are, but hard work and smart ideas -- quality products and wise investments. We started taking shortcuts. We started living on credit, instead of building up savings.
Translation: "I've already 'borrowed' it for you."
Via Instapundit.
THE MOST ETHICAL CONGRESS EVER
Nancy Pelosi: "The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history"
Today, via Instapundit:
When you're up to your ass in alligators, maybe it's time to drain the swamp. The next opportunity is 2010.
As Glenn is so fond of saying, we're in the best of hands.
Today, via Instapundit:
Last month, four respected public-interest groups - Democracy 21, Common Cause, Public Citizen and U.S. PIRG - called on the House ethics committee to launch an inquiry into whether campaign contributions from the lobbying firm PMA Group, its employees and clients improperly influenced Democratic lawmakers in deciding whether to fund various projects.
[O]n Tuesday, the House voted 215-182 against a Republican resolution to initiate a House ethics committee inquiry. The vote was not strictly partisan - 29 Democrats went against their leadership in favor of an investigation.
When you're up to your ass in alligators, maybe it's time to drain the swamp. The next opportunity is 2010.
As Glenn is so fond of saying, we're in the best of hands.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
AN ACCOMPLICE TO ‘TORTURE’
Karl Rove tells it straight:
It’s going to be very interesting when the Cheney memos are leaked.
Someone important appears not to be telling the truth about her knowledge of the CIA's use of enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs). That someone is Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
It’s going to be very interesting when the Cheney memos are leaked.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
IN DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE
“[There is] no question that many average gay Americans want the official sanction of marriage for the best of reasons: to honor passionate commitment and lifelong relationships. It’s essential for those who defend the traditional definition of marriage to make the case that marriage is worth preserving, when the consequences of winning the debate include disappointment, humiliation, and anger among gay people who wish to be married.”
This post is worthy of a full read - comments included. I would only add that – it seems to me – there is no question that history has proven the superiority of a committed, monagomous, male-female nuclear family for the protection of the young, and in the longer term, continuation of the human race.
Traditional marriage is the “gold standard” of human relationships, and not all who try can or will succeed. But is that reason enough to lower the standard?
This post is worthy of a full read - comments included. I would only add that – it seems to me – there is no question that history has proven the superiority of a committed, monagomous, male-female nuclear family for the protection of the young, and in the longer term, continuation of the human race.
Traditional marriage is the “gold standard” of human relationships, and not all who try can or will succeed. But is that reason enough to lower the standard?
THE AUDACITY OF LIPSTICK
Don Surber’s proposed title for Gov. Sarah Palin’s forthcoming book.
If only the Democrat Party symbol were a moose ....
If only the Democrat Party symbol were a moose ....
A BULLY ADMINISTRATION
“[M]ore than one Chrysler senior creditor has corroborated Thomas Lauria’s allegation that the Obama administration threatened them with public attacks if they didn’t surrender their contractual rights. One of their sources says that the Obama team comprises some of the worst ‘ends justify the means’ people he’s ever encountered.”
Paraphrasing Glenn Reynolds, the country is in the very best of [Mafia] hands.
Paraphrasing Glenn Reynolds, the country is in the very best of [Mafia] hands.
HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT
Does politically correct institutional stupidity constitute a hostile work environment?
During the nine years I’ve worked there, my company never had a word to say during the annual flu season (beyond facilitating flu shots).
Now with the new administration – and the swine flu panic – we've had “emergency preparations” to work at home in case the building is closed, and now the obligatory “cover when you cough” and ”wash your hands while singing 'Happy Birthday’” signs have been posted in every restroom.
Shouldn’t that be considered a “hostile work environment” for anyone with even an ounce of usable brain tissue?
During the nine years I’ve worked there, my company never had a word to say during the annual flu season (beyond facilitating flu shots).
Now with the new administration – and the swine flu panic – we've had “emergency preparations” to work at home in case the building is closed, and now the obligatory “cover when you cough” and ”wash your hands while singing 'Happy Birthday’” signs have been posted in every restroom.
Shouldn’t that be considered a “hostile work environment” for anyone with even an ounce of usable brain tissue?
SOME THOUGHTS ON AN EARLIER POST
Reflecting on my earlier post, I noted the DC City Council voted in favor of gay marriage despite overwhelming opposition of the black community. The following day, there was a demonstration outside the Council offices in favor of a DC school voucher program for which the City Council is notably unenthusiastic.
The Democrats (DC is a wholly-owned Democrat subsidiary) continue to infuriate their largest, most loyal - and monolithic - voting bloc. How long this will continue before the black community realizes it’s being used and starts to leave the plantation?
The Democrats (DC is a wholly-owned Democrat subsidiary) continue to infuriate their largest, most loyal - and monolithic - voting bloc. How long this will continue before the black community realizes it’s being used and starts to leave the plantation?
SMOKERS TEED OFF
“The city of Spokane just tried to ban smoking on its four public golf courses, only to be stymied by an outcry from players and smoking rights advocates.”
‘Washington state is among the least hospitable places for smokers, with no smoking allowed in any public indoor space, or outside within 25 feet of a door or window. But the proposed smoking ban on public links has struck a nerve, in part because of the vastness of golf courses.”
"’If I was just walking and somebody was 300 feet away, I'm bothering them?’ avid smoker and golfer Greg Presley told the Spokane parks board during a public hearing. ‘We've got to have some common sense.’"
Oops! There’s that pesky “c-phrase” again. No one is his right mind could ever accuse the government of having common sense.
‘Washington state is among the least hospitable places for smokers, with no smoking allowed in any public indoor space, or outside within 25 feet of a door or window. But the proposed smoking ban on public links has struck a nerve, in part because of the vastness of golf courses.”
"’If I was just walking and somebody was 300 feet away, I'm bothering them?’ avid smoker and golfer Greg Presley told the Spokane parks board during a public hearing. ‘We've got to have some common sense.’"
Oops! There’s that pesky “c-phrase” again. No one is his right mind could ever accuse the government of having common sense.
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