Month: January 2010

Contributed by: filbert Friday, January 22 2010 @ 07:50 AM CST

From The Road To Serfdom, by F. A. Hayek, 1944, Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, 1994, The University of Chicago Press.

The Rule of Law implies limits to the scope of legislation; it restricts it to the kind of general rules known as formal law and excludes legislation either directly aimed at particular people or at enabling anybody to use the coercive power of the state for the purpose of such discrimination. It means not that everything is regulated by law, but, on the contrary, that the coercive power of the state can be used only in cases defined in advance by law and in such a way that it can be foreseen how it will be used.

Excerpted under Fair Use for purposes of non-commercial education, discussion and comment. Any transcription or typographical errors are mine.

Contributed by: filbert Thursday, January 21 2010 @ 12:40 PM CST

A (mostly) daily review of what’s out there that caught my attention. (Yeah, it’s possible I might have ADD . . .)

I surf the Web, so you don’t have to!

Section One: The Big Stories:
1.1: The Haiti earthquake and aftermath:
Haiti, Poverty and Earthquakes [*1]

1.2: The Massachusetts earthquake and its aftermath, or:
WHAT IT ALL MEANS!!!:
And now, a cautionary note [*2]
The World Turned Upside Down [*3]
Nutroots Agree: Coakley Lost Because Dem Party Is Not Radical Enough [*4]
SO, BROWN WON. [*5]
It’s The Center, Sucka [*6]
Three Reasons Why The Dems Are in Big, Big Trouble. And One Reason Why They’re Not. [*7] — As you might guess, the one reason they’re not is that their main political opponents are the Republicans . . . who aren’t called the Stupid Party for nothing . . .
Massachusetts earthquake puts everything in play [*8] — See, I’m not the only one who went with the borderline insensitive “earthquake” line . . .,
Bayh warns that “far Left” has seized the Democratic Party; Update: Lanny Davis concurs [*9]
Ride the Tide with Commonsense Candidates! [*10]
The Massachusetts Miracle [*11]
Cognitive Dissonance [*12]
The Message from Massachusetts [*13]
The Democratic Reaction Richter Scale [*14]
The Peasants Are Revolting![*15]
Message Not Received [*16]
Now That Coakley’s Croaked, Just What Kind of Senator is Scott Brown Likely to be? [*17]
“the strident, purist base”[*18]
MA Senate Election Starting To Get Through At White House? [*19]
Message Maybe Recieved, By Some? [*20]
Press Takes a New Look at Tea Parties After Brown Win [*21]
“This is like Ted Kennedy winning in Utah . . . “[*22] — Cato Institute video . . . “. . . he didn’t run on social issues, he ran against big government . . . ”
Brown: “Maybe there’s a new breed of Republican coming to Washington” [*23] — If by that he means small-government, responsible-governance, corruption-fighting Republicans, that’s what I’m hoping for . . .
Why the Great and Growing Backlash?: What Scott Brown’s election portends for the Obama agenda. [*24] — I like the Ghost of Dean Barnett theory . . .
Brown’s daughter to critics of his joke: Mellow out[*25]

More after the “Read More” . . . 1.3: “Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Cap and Trade May be Dead, But Bad Energy Policy Isn’t [*26]
NASA GISS a temperature outlier again – this time for the southern hemisphere [*27]
Climate Change Authority Admits Mistake: The use of news reports as sources calls a key finding into question. [*28] — Gee. Ya think?

1.4: Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
How Did School Staffers Get Insulin Instead of Flu Vaccine? [*29] — Government Health Care at work . . .
Bush Administration Saw the Market as Key to Health Reform [*30] — There are other paths to “reform.” Too bad that the Democrats in Congress and their allies in Big Media didn’t want to talk about them . . .
What Sort of Health Care Reform Does Scott Brown Actually Support? [*31]
Obama Sternly Warns Congress: Don’t Just Jam Health Care Through Against the People’s Will [*32] — ** SNORT **
Report: House liberals tell Pelosi they won’t play ping pong on ObamaCare [*33]
Health Care and the Constitution [*34] — “If Congress can order you to buy insurance, why stop there?”
Health Insurance by Command: The trouble with the individual mandate [*35]
House unlikely to pass Senate health bill: Pelosi [*36]

Section Two: Things That Amuse Me:
2.1: Simians:
Madagascar [*37] — yes, yes, lemurs are primates, not simians, but dag-nabbit, close enough!

2.2: Travel:
Southwest Looks at Revamping Rapid Rewards, Adding Same Day Standby Rules [*38]

2.3: Sports:
UNO withdraws Sun Belt membership [*39] — Katrina claims another victim . . .
Oral Roberts Edged By Crosstown Rival Tulsa [*40]
The Star’s high school basketball rankings [*41]
KU fights off Baylor 81-75 [*42]
Coach of perennial power Arlington wins national award [*43] — Small-town South Dakota girl’s volleyball coach . . .
SDSU set for Summit weekend [*44] — both the men’s and women’s basketball conference leaders come to Frost Arena . . .
Jets Fan Arrested at Chargers Game [*45]

2.4: Science Fiction and Writing:
Evolution of The Novel, Prt 1 [*46]
Guest Blog Week: Are You a Word Nerd or a Grammar Rebel? [*47]
What Do People Think Science Fiction Is? [*48]

2.5: Miscellany:
Swine Flu Hysteria [*49]
Who Needs Energy Independence? [*50]
Woman found guilty of stalking herself [*51] — I hate it when I’m caught stalking myself . . .
Laurel, Hardy jailed on drug charges [*52] — Cue the “Another Fine Mess” joke . . .
Part of Buffalo Gap may be vehicle-free [*53] — The article’s title is what amused me. Imagine my (lack of) surprise when I find it’s simply another Democrat trying to tell Americans what they can’t do . . . while “solving” a problem that isn’t even a problem . . .
Poll Analysis: Dems To 52 Senate Seats If Elections Held Today [*54]
McJerks [*55]

Section Three: All Politics All The Time:
3.1: Strategy and tactics for defending human freedom and liberty:
Place Blame Where It Belongs [*56] — “The 1935 Social Security Act was a marvel of Ponzi-scheme legerdemain that surpasses anything Bernie Madoff could conjure.”
Power Corrupts [*57] — “Power does really corrupt, but it is as true that corrupt people seek power.”
Ayn Rand: Radical for Something Other Than Capitalism? [*58] — Among the greatest threats to Liberty are these: First, when the majority realizes that in a democracy they can simply steal (i.e. tax) the wealth from the minority, and when companies (and other “factions”) realize that they can secure advantages over competitors by the skillful use of the naked force of government . . .
One Year Ago- The World’s Greatest Liberator Since World War II Leaves Office [*59]
How to Cause a Political Tsunami [*60]
Conservatism Rising [*61] — Conservatives need to be careful to draw the right conclusions here . . . what Americans REALLY want is liberty, not social engineering–either leftist or right-wing social engineering . . .
Kevin Dujan of Hill Buzz is NOT a racist and he needs our help [*62]
Hayek on Individualism [*63] — A detailed study of Hayek’s writings should be required for every single high school student in this country, in order to understand why this country exists . . .
Breaking: Supreme Court strikes down some McCain-Feingold provisions; Update: Opinion added [*64]
A victory for free speech [*65]
Supreme Court decimates McCain-Feingold campaign finance law; Update: Citizens United reacts to victory [*66]
The Libertarian Vote in the Age of Obama [*67]
Supreme Court Vindicates Political Speech, Pulverizes McCain-Feingold [*68]
A History to Be Proud Of [*69]
It Is Official [*70] — The “war on drugs” is one issue I part with the cultural conservatives on . . . I see it as destructive, wasteful, and ultimately ineffective–a modern-day Prohibition which does nothing but provide money to gangs and organized crime while simultaneously pushing police departments toward more and more routine violations of our fundamental rights . . .
Ron Paul: The CIA staged a silent coup and is running everything [*71] — Why I can’t take Ron Paul that seriously . . .
Supreme Court rejects corporate campaign spending limits [*72]

Tuesday’s Repercussions: A New Game [*73]

This is no longer about party politics. This is about forcing an issue – smaller and less intrusive government, fewer taxes, more freedom.

Figure it out or join the unemployment line, Dems and GOP.

Fair warning.

3.2: The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
For This Libertarian, Obama’s First Year Looks Grim [*74]
One Year Later [*75]
Obama’s Broken Promises [*76]
If you’ve lost Warren Buffett… [*77]
Democrats Try To Pre-emptively Define New Republican “Responsibility” [*78] — ** SNORT **
Geithner’s Lifelong Love of Bailouts [*79]
Rahm Emanuel’s Crisis Management Hurts His Party (Big Time) [*80]
Barbara Boxer: “Every state is now in play” [*81] — Yes, “Ma’am,” they are.
For the First Time Ever… US Drops Out of “Free” Category in 2010 Index of Economic Freedom[*82] — Barack Obama and the Democrat Congress did this to us. They should never, ever be forgiven for it . . .
Obama Hopes to Change the Subject [*83] — Sadly, Barry no longer controls the agenda–if he really ever did. We do: the people he works for.
Barack Obama’s Land of the Mostly Free [*84] — Let the piling on continue!

3.3: The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
Sobriety Test: How to tell if the GOP is serious about shrinking government. [*85] — Freezing the Federal Budget (if not shrinking it by at least 5% across the board), killing the Department of Education, and discontinuing government funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, PBS and NPR would be a very good start, IMHO . . . but I’d settle for the ideas in the article . . .

3.4: Opposition Research: The enemies of human freedom and liberty:
EU is the new US [*86]
The Idea Is the Problem: How the Democrats misjudged the American people [*87]
Report: Over 1,000 Regulations Void? [*88] — uncontrolled, unsupervised regulatory agencies are Enemies of Freedom . . .
Liberals and Guns [*89] — “In the city’s attempt to preserve its weapons ban, it proves too much, essentially urging the Supreme Court to find that protection of the Bill of Rights and other fundamental liberties against state infringement has no basis in constitutional text or history. . .” yet this kind of thing is exactly what the enemies of liberty argue all the time–it’s the core of the “Living Constitution” BS that the plain words of the Constitution don’t really mean what they plainly say . . .
The Democrats Start to Fracture [*90] — I really do look forward to a day when I don’t have to automatically assume anybody with a D behind their name is an implacable enemy of liberty . . .
The End of the Obama Mystique [*91]
Between Barack and A Hard Place – The Lesson of ’68 Looms for Democrats [*92] — “So what’s a Coercive Utopian to do?”
Relieved [*93] — A Democrat congressional staffer writes “I came to DC, from a far superior climate and quality of life, because I wanted to save the world.” — There’s your problem, right there. We don’t want you to “save the world.” We want you to govern wisely and well. Until you abandon your messianic dreams, you will continue to be an Enemy of Freedom and Liberty. Start TRUSTING THE PEOPLE— I mean really trusting the people, by returning to them a measure of the liberty you have worked diligently to steal from them, and you may yet save your sorry political ass. Because your attitude is EXACTLY what a very, very large segment of the American citizenry is now enraged about. If you are not very, very careful in the next few months, “up in arms” will become more than just a figure of speech.
The Profit of Reform [*94]
Hubris is Ruining the Democrats [*95]

3.5: Media bias–and incompetence:
How’s That Whole Teabaggers-and-Obamacare-Opponents-Are-Racists Thing Working Out? [*96]
Fairly Definitive Proof of Media Bias [*97] — Media bias is only a problem if the media in question insists that it is objective . . . the Republic flourished for centuries with an openly partisan press . . .
CNN, MSNBC Cut Republican Candidate’s Mic! [*98] — There are biased cable news networks out there–and they’re not named Fox News Channel . . .
DOJ Announces Newspaper Takeovers [*99] — Why shouldn’t the government control newspapers? I can think of a reason or two . . .
The monetization paradox (or why Google is not my friend) [*100] — The problem is simple: The cost of information delivery has dropped to next to nothing, but the media has largely failed to change their business models to reflect this simple economic fact. Until they figure out how to significantly add value to the information they provide, they will struggle to survive.
Courting Disaster with Christiane Amanpour [*101] — Who may be the stupidest and most blatantly biased person in cable news . . . and this takes into account Keith Olbermann . . .

3.6: Fear The ‘Cuda–A spotlight on Citizen Palin, who really needs to find a better phrase than “Common-sense conservatism” to describe her philosophy:
Conservatives 4 Palin [*102] –Semi-permanent link for Palinmania . . .
Reunited: Palin to campaign for McCain in Arizona [*103] — I Question The Timing . . . McCain-Feingold gets gutted by the Supreme Court the same day the ‘Cuda says she’ll campaign for the aforementioned McCain. It’s a conspiracy, I tell you! The CIA is behind it all! Illuminati! Bilderburgers!

Section Four: The Rest of the News:
4.1: The Economy:
KC: One of America’s most frugal cities [*104] — I think Snookums is responsible for at least half of this . . .
The U.S. Isn’t as Free as It Used to Be [*105]
Americans Call for Change As U.S. Becomes Less Economically Free [*106]
Deaf to Deficit Warnings [*107]
2009 was bad, but hope springs eternal for small businesses [*108]
Deficit Kabuki theater: Democrats act like they care about debt [*109]
Housing industry takes two “unexpected” hits in December [*110] — Doesn’t it tell you something that the all-too-frequent bad economic news is always, always unexpected by Big Media and our government?
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson on the National Bank. [*111] — Maybe I should have a “learning from history” section . . .
The Problem with Spending [*112] — is that every dollar spent by government is a dollar (at least–probably more like two or three dollars) which is not spent by the private economy to hire people and build businesses (to hire more people) . . .
Bailing out the Banks Was Wrong, but New Tax Won’t Make It Right [*113] — “Too Big To Fail” is too big to prop up when they screw up . . .
Rothbard on Economic Theory [*114] — Audio lecture series, for the really interested . . .
The Rail Scam [*115]

4.2: Foreign affairs and National Security:
Director Of National Intelligence: You Know, Giving The Christmas Bomber A Lawyer Was A Mistake [*116]
Wars less deadly than they used to be, report says [*117] — Interesting that this comes out now that Obama is supposed to be fighting our wars now, isn’t it? Can you even imagine this story running two years ago when Bush was President? Really?

4.3: Science, technology, and space:
Europe’s conquering heroes? Likely farmers: study [*118]
German scientists develop fast-acting germ killer [*119]
Icarus: The Motivations for Fusion [*120]

Contributed by: filbert Thursday, January 21 2010 @ 07:49 AM CST

From The Road To Serfdom, by F. A. Hayek, 1944, Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, 1994, The University of Chicago Press.

The conflict is thus not, as it has often been misconceived in nineteenth-century discussion, one between liberty and law. As John Locke had already made clear, there can be no liberty without law. The conflict is between different kinds of law–law so different that it should hardly be called by the same name; one is the law of the Rule of Law, general principles laid down beforehand, the “rules of the game” which enable individuals to foresee how the coercive apparatus of the state will be used, or what he and his fellow-citizens will be allowed to do, or made to do, in stated circumstances. The other kind of law gives in effect the authority power to do what it thinks fit to do. Thus the Rule of Law could clearly not be preserved in a democracy that undertook to decide every conflict of interests not according to rules previously laid down but “on its merits.”

Excerpted under Fair Use for purposes of non-commercial education, discussion and comment. Any transcription or typographical errors are mine.

Contributed by: filbert Wednesday, January 20 2010 @ 08:38 AM CST

A (mostly) daily review of what’s out there that caught my attention. (Yeah, it’s possible I might have ADD . . .)

I surf the Web, so you don’t have to!

Section One: The Big Stories:
1.1: The Day After: A Republican wins a Senate seat in deep-blue Democratic Massachusetts:
Inside the mind of a key Coakley supporter [*1]
Thinking about the unthinkable, Part Four [*2]
Massachusetts Election Refutes Weak Tea Conservatism [*3]
Slowing Brown Down (If He Wins) [*4] — The firecracker has been lit. Are the Democrats smart enough to let go of it, or will they try to hold on even tighter and hope the fuse will go out?
Why Is This Woman Handing Out Absentee Ballots?[*5] — Democrats cheat and steal elections–at least they try to. Repeatedly. Consistently. All over the country. The Brown tidal wave hit them before their vote fraud machinery could be properly set up.
A Raw Deal in Massachusetts [*6]
RNC: 100% as Evil But Only 50% as Stupid — GOP Shifted Money Into Massachusett[e]s Quietly To GOTV While Not Painting a Red Target on Brown’s Back [*7]
More Democrat Voter Fraud Tactics Exposed [*8]
Oh, My: Frank Luntz Having Trouble Filling His Post-Election Focus-Groups With Coakley Voters: “>I never dreamed I’d see Democrats in Massachusetts embarrassed to admit they’re Democrats” [*9]
Blue Dog Barks: Even Bayh Warns Dem’s of Catastrophe If Today’s Lessons Ignored [*10]
Dead can dance [*11]
Busted. Dem Coakley Alleges Voter Fraud in Press Release… Prepared on Monday [*12] — No wonder she lost. She couldn’t even cheat right.
The 2nd Boston Tea Party Rocks The US: Scott Brown wins! [*13]
COAKLEY CONCEDES [*14] — “And there was much rejoicing.” “Yay.”
Where do they go from here? [*15]
Mr. Brown Goes to Washington… In a Pick-up Truck, No Less! [*16] — The ‘Cuda weighs in . . .
The House Is Very Much In Play [*17]
Liberty 1, Tyranny 0 After Brown’s Big Win [*18]
After Brown….A Call to Arms! [*19]
Dems Assemble Circular Firing Squad Over Coakley Loss; Freedom Left Intact – For Now [*20]
Happy Anniversary Mr. President! [*21]
And, this here is, for the moment, the last word: NEXT. [*22]

This message goes out to every vulnerable Democratic Congressman representing a Republican or even centrist district – and after tonight, who among you is not vulnerable? It is a simple message: we can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. The easy way is, you suddenly decide that you have a burning desire to spend more time with your families. So you don’t run for re-election, you walk off stage technically undefeated, and you go join a lobbying firm. The hard way is, you do run for re-election, and we pry you out of your seats.

We want to do this the hard way. We will enjoy doing it.

That’s your only warning. And remember: nobody is going to be able to save you. If the President, the DSCC, the DCCC, the DNC, the SEIU, ACORN, and the netroots couldn’t manage a win in Massachusetts… what do you think that they can do for you?

More after the “Read More” . . . 1.2: Haiti:
S. Dakota State coach will go barefoot for Haiti [*23]
Nagy goes national to help Haiti [*24]
(the above two double-linked here and under “Sports” . . . )

1.3: “Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Brookhaven National Laboratory: Why Hasn’t Earth Warmed as Much as Expected? [*25]

1.4: Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
Dems getting “cold feet” on ObamaCare [*26]
Politico: House Dems already starting to run from ObamaCare [*27]
Democrat Sen. Jim Webb on gov’t health care takeover: Whoa, Nelly! [*28]

Section Two: Things That Amuse Me:
2.1: Simians:
No simians. Rarely simians.

2.2: Travel:
TSA Pays Blogger to Mock People Harassed by TSA [*29] — Ah. Brilliant. No. Really.

2.3: Sports:
S. Dakota State coach will go barefoot for Haiti [*23]
Nagy goes national to help Haiti [*24]
SAAC kicks off Summit League Food Fight
Hopson, Chism lead No. 8 Vols past Alabama, 63-56 [*30]
Shoes-for-Haiti charity has extra meaning to Nagy [*31]
SDSU football recruits 2010 [*32] — Including a kid from Blue Springs South, which happens to be the school district your humble correspondent resides within . . .

2.4: Science Fiction and Writing:
You Can’t Please Them All [*33]
Torchwood moving to U.S.?? [*34]

2.5: Miscellany:
Out go drinking games in booze crackdown [*35] — “Palin said ‘You Betcha!’ Drink!”
A tale of two cities (and two sewers) [*36]
Unified Government approves development plan for Wizards stadium, Cerner Corp. campus [*37]

Section Three: All Politics All The Time:
3.1: Strategy and tactics for defending human freedom and liberty:
“conservatives hate gay people” [*38] — Well, to be honest, some do. Many on the right don’t however–they frankly couldn’t care less what you do as consenting adults in the privacy of your bedroom. On the other hand, some collectivists despise gay people, but want to use them as political weapons anyway.
Abominable Economics [*39] — Jerome Corsi hops the divide between wild conspiracy theories and almost–almost making sense far, far too easily for my taste. People who show up on the Coast to Coast AM radio show generally shouldn’t be taken very seriously, IMHO . . .
The American People Reject Big Government [*40]
Who should give the GOP response to Obama’s State of the Union address? [*41] — Scott Brown, of course.
Scott Brown needs to deliver Republican State of the Union rebuttal [*42] — I imagine a lot of people are having that thought . . .
Dear GOP: Let Scott Brown Give Response to SOTU Address– In His Truck [*43]

3.2: The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
Coakley concedes [*44] — Richard Fernandez is correct in this post: This is a Moment of Truth for Obama. Is he a leader of Americans, or is he a shameless, brazen ideologue pushing his own vision of how things should be on a (now obviously) unwilling American public?
A message for President Obama [*45] — I wish I’d thought of this first: Mr. President, we won.
The Obama Administration’s Rampant Racism [*46] — Although “cynical thug” isn’t exactly a synonym for “blithering idiot,” the effect is ultimately the same . . .
Obama targets “tax cheats” seeking government work [*47] — Strangely, this is NOT about doing a better job of vetting high-level Administration appointees . . .

3.3: The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
They’re all sleeping off their hangovers from the Brown parties . . .

3.4: Opposition Research: The enemies of human freedom and liberty:
No Taxes, Please, We’re Democrats [*48] — “It’s a tax break for being a Democrat.” And yet, I’m utterly unsurprised. They’re Democrats. It’s what they do.
An Open Letter to Our Readers [*49]
The Next Government Takeover: Student Loans [*50]
Sheriff Joe’s Enabler: Meet Maricopa County Attorney Andy Thomas—overtly political prosecutor, abuser of power, sworn enemy of libertarianism [*51]
The Coming Democrat Counteroffensive [*52]
The Left’s Rhetoric of Accusation [*53] — It’s just projection . . . leftists think that way, and so think everybody else thinks that way, too. They’re wrong, which is why they continually make disastrous mistakes . . .
The Silence of the Trolls [*54]
Far left has taken over Democratic Party, Sen. Bayh says [*55]

3.5: Media bias–and incompetence:
Case Study in New York Times Bias, Coakley/Brown Edition [*56]
The Kansas City Star lays off a dozen workers, eliminates unfilled positions [*57]

3.6: Fear The ‘Cuda–A spotlight on Citizen Palin, who really needs to find a better phrase than “Common-sense conservatism” to describe her philosophy:
Conservatives 4 Palin [*58] –Semi-permanent link for Palinmania . . .

Section Four: The Rest of the News:
4.1: The Economy:
Just the usual depressing stuff . . .

4.2: Foreign affairs and National Security:
Military Spending — For What? [*59]

4.3: Science, technology, and space:
Hey, did you hear Massachusetts had an election?

Contributed by: filbert Wednesday, January 20 2010 @ 07:48 AM CST

From The Road To Serfdom, by F. A. Hayek, 1944, Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, 1994, The University of Chicago Press.

By giving the government unlimited powers, the most arbitrary rule can be made legal; and in this way a democracy may set up the most complete despotism imaginable.

Excerpted under Fair Use for purposes of non-commercial education, discussion and comment. Any transcription or typographical errors are mine.

Contributed by: filbert Tuesday, January 19 2010 @ 10:53 AM CST

A (mostly) daily review of what’s out there that caught my attention. (Yeah, it’s possible I might have ADD . . .)

I surf the Web, so you don’t have to!

Section One: The Big Stories:
1.1: The Massachusetts Senate Race–(With BONUS correct spelling of the state in question!):
Wow… Martha Coakley Holds Rally at MLK Breakfast With Scott Brown Sitting In the Room — Brown Responds [*1] — Nothing is “non-political” to the Democrats . . . Everything is an “opportunity” to “educate their fellow citizens” . . . although “educate” should be replaced with “indoctrinate” for the most part . . .
Wow: Insider Advantage poll for Politico shows Brown by nine [*2]
ARG Has Brown Up By 7; Insider Advantage Has Brown Up By 9; Brown Up By Double Digits in FOX Poll [*3]
Polls, Robocalls, Snow, and Other Distractions in Massachusetts [*4]
John Kerry: “Revved Up Tea-Baggers Hijacking Health Care” [*5] — Since we’re name-calling, Johnny boy, better to be a Teabagger than a Fudgepacker like you . . . (dedicated and committed to screwing the taxpayer up the wazzoo, don’t you know . . . )
MSNBC Hacks Suffer Meltdown After Tingles Shares the Sad News “It Looks Like Brown” (Video) [*6] — Nice, but when exactly do the MSNBC hacks NOT suffer meltdowns?
Question for John Kerry: Why Isn’t Martha Coakley Speaking Up And Getting Massachusetts Democrats Under Control? [*7] — Ah. Yesterday, speaking as a Palinista, I worried about the absence of the ‘Cuda in the Rogue’s list cited by J. F’ing Kerry as Threats To The Party or whatever. I’m mollified that the Arctic Fox did indeed draw his ire . . .
Democratic internal poll: Coakley by 1 [*8] — On the one hand . . . PANIC!!! On the other hand, Democrats lie. And cheat. Most pollsters neglect to include the Expired-American vote which tends to be very heavy in Democrat-leaning areas like Massachusetts.
I don’t know what Rally Carl Cameron was at… [*9]
Brown: If I win, I’ll be in D.C. on Friday [*10]
Perfect Storm[*11]
Disgusting… Phony Pro-Lifers Are Making Anti-Scott Brown Calls in Massachusetts [*12] — Democrats lie. It’s what they do.
To Amuse Conservatives, Olbermann Throws Kitchen Sink at Scott Brown [*13]
Should Libertarian Candidate Make Way For Scott Brown? [*14] — I’m not sure, today, it’s going to make a difference one way or another. People are pissed off and can’t wait to express their anger.
Remember the truck! [*15]

More after the “Read More” . . . 1.2: Haiti:
Why we shouldn’t be in Haiti [*16] — It is not charity to be generous with someone else’s money . . .
Fox News Crew Discovers Truckload of Babies in Haiti [*17] — Another horrifying chapter in the ongoing horror which is Haiti–before and after the earthquake . . .

1.3: “Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
The World Has Not Ended Today! Check Back Tomorrow!

1.4: Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
House Dems Pushing To Accept Senate Health Care Bill? [*18] — Because, you see, they simply don’t care what a majority of Americans want . . .
Will Health Care Reform Go Down in Massachusetts? [*19] — I don’t think so . . . too many Democrats have bet their careers on getting the abomination passed, so that’s what they’re going to do, come hell or high water. I think they’ll get the hell, come November . . .
Here we go: Dems to ask House to ping-pong Senate ObamaCare bill [*20] — . . . see? If they do this, I predict it will be the end of the Democratic Party as an electoral force in the United States. Or, it will be the end of the pretense that we live under a nation of laws under a Constitution. The two are now obviously, completely incompatible with each other.
Good news: Obama to take “combative” approach to Brown victory [*21]
Obama’s Healthcare Discrimination [*22] — Unions And Special Interests Good. Regular People Bad. So Sayeth The Democrats.

Section Two: Things That Amuse Me:
2.1: Simians:
Thoughts about the movie Avatar [*23] — No, damnit, not about simians, but does contain “If the movie is humans vs. apes, I’m rooting for the humans. Nothing against apes, but I’m going to root for the humans.” Close enough.

2.2: Travel:
American Airlines raises checked bag fees [*24]

2.3: Sports:
Student ticket protocol outlined for SDSU-USD game [*25] — my alma mater inches towards the big time . . .
IPFW Regains Sole Possession of First Place in League Standings [*26] — Summit League women’s basketball
No. 10 K-State upsets top-ranked Texas 71-62 [*27]
Tuesday Tidbits [*28]

2.4: Science Fiction and Writing:
REVIEW: It’s ‘24′ and Bauer’s Back [*29] — Yeah, “24” is science fiction, of a sort . . .
SF reading protocols [*30]
List in Importance [*31]

2.5: Miscellany:
Some 864,000 pounds of U.S. ground beef recalled [*32] — Don’t worry . . . unless you’re in California . . .
Do You Wash New Clothes Before You Wear Them? [*33] — Apparently, a VERY good idea . . . it also puts into a much different context Snookums’ insistence that I try on every single article of clothing in the store before I buy it. Ewwww.

Section Three: All Politics All The Time:
3.1: Strategy and tactics for defending human freedom and liberty:
Hey, Check it Out, Conservatives Have Discovered the Internet or Something [*34] — Unlike Ace, I am an objective observer–I have objectively observed that maximizing freedom and liberty within a defined rule of law which changes slowly and only with serious-minded deliberation maximizes the well-being of humanity–and it works every time people have the nerve to try it–I mean really try it, not just give it lip-service . . .
Strange loop [*35]
The Joyous Daybreak [*36] — “Racism enforces a conformity of thought that is precious to every brand of despotism. Tyrants love to burden their subjects with an enemy they only need to point at.” Like, for instance, “The Religious Right” . . .
TIME TO PIVOT: Plan on putting immense pressure on all Democrats tomorrow to put the Holy Fear of Voters into all of them [*37]
Poll: Most Americans Want Smaller Government, Fewer Services [*38]
The Top 4 Things Congressional Republicans Must Do in 2010 – Part II [*39]
The Free Administration of Justice [*40]
Andrew Jackson: Then and Now[*41]

3.2: The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
All your retirement money are belong to us [*42] — Because the “Social Security Lockbox” has worked out so very, very well so far . . .
Defense Budget Increases Inadequate to Support the Military’s Plans and Programs [*43] — Because national defense is a luxury we just can’t afford in these difficult times . . .
Obama Just Need be “Not too Bad” [*44] — unfortunately, that seems to be a pretty high bar for a collectivist Democrat to clear . . .
Promises [*45] — The Democrats have forgotten Rule #1: Don’t make us angry. You won’t like us when we’re angry.
Let’s read the full text of Obama’s pro-Coakley speech. [*46] — This from somebody who voted for the guy . . .
WH Chief of Staff Emanuel’s Joke – ‘The First Amendment…It’s Highly Overrated’ – and its Proper Context[*47] — See, it’s really not funny if you “joke” about blowing off somebody’s head while waving around a loaded shotgun with it’s safety off . . . it’s kind of like that, Rahm old boy . . .
Double Down [*48] — How to guarantee the continuation of his plummeting approval ratings . . . if not eventual impeachment . . .

3.3: The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
Is the GOP Worthy of Governance? [*49] — Not until their leaders unequivocally figure out that The People are PISSED–AT THEM for their dalliance with Big-Govenrnment-Conservatism as well as at the collectivist Democrats for being just a bit too overtly collectivist Democrats . . .

3.4: Opposition Research: The enemies of human freedom and liberty:
20 great moments in liberal bigotry [*50] — but remember, it’s not “hate speech” if they say it . . .
Obama State of Union set for Jan 27, budget Feb 1 [*51] — In case you were wondering, yes, I now consider Obama an enemy of human freedom and liberty, until he gives me some reason to consider him otherwise . . . perhaps he will begin that “healing process” on January 27th–but I highly doubt it . . .
Green Bullies [*52]
“white-collar crime” was a term coined by a socialist who believed that all business transactions were inherently criminal [*53] — I did not know this . . .
CBS: 71% don’t want Palin to run for president [*54] — I suspect an episode here of “How To Lie With Statistics” . . .
More on how to lie with statistics [*55] — Pretend that both “Undecided” and “No opinion” answers can be considered “No, I don’t support her” answers . . . that’s how you do it . . .
Liberalism Is Dead [*56] — “A big chunk of the Left has always despised liberalism anyway.” The collectivist Left has totally corrupted what was once a very honorable word . . .
EDITORIAL: Panther politics: White House interference derails Justice? [*57] — Defending voter intimidation from the Attorney General’s chair in Washington
On The Left: Who Are The Nihilists? [*58]
The Myth that Is FDR [*59]

3.5: Media bias–and incompetence:
Et Tu, Tingles?… Chris Matthews Misses the Good Ol’ Days of Dem Vote Buying (Audio) [*60] — So, if you’re watching MSNBC, do you understand that you are overtly supporting people who openly advocate Federal felony vote fraud?

3.6: Fear The ‘Cuda–A spotlight on Citizen Palin, who really needs to find a better phrase than “Common-sense conservatism” to describe her philosophy:
Conservatives 4 Palin [*61] –Semi-permanent link for Palinmania . . .

Section Four: The Rest of the News:
4.1: The Economy:
Forced Loans [*62] — The Government is NOT here to help you . . .
Fixing the Financial System: The Fix Is In [*63] — Here’s a reform for you: Get The Hell Out Of The Way. And Take Your Corporatist Cronies With You.
Deadbeating Without Shame [*64] — There was once a time when paying your debts was considered to be the honorable thing to do . . .

4.2: Foreign affairs and National Security:
Defense department shows, rather than says, why the Fort Hood massacre occurred [*65] — “Political Correctness” aka “Diversity” aka “Multiculturalism” is NOT a good idea. It is an idea that gets good people killed by bad people, because we are too “enlightened” to recognize bad people as being bad people.
Anti-Americanism in seven easy steps [*66]

4.3: Science, technology, and space:
Comcast changes require set-top boxes for most customers [*67] — “Starting March 15 and continuing through March 29, Comcast plans to switch about half the channels Expanded Basic customers currently receive to digital signals.” — say goodbye to the good old days of analog cable TV . . . and they were good days . . . say hello to the not-so-good days of digital TV . . . PROGRESS!!!
10 tips for improving your wireless network [*68]

Contributed by: filbert Tuesday, January 19 2010 @ 07:48 AM CST

From The Road To Serfdom, by F. A. Hayek, 1944, Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, 1994, The University of Chicago Press.

The idea that there is no limit to the power of the legislator is in part a result of popular sovereignty and democratic government. It has been strengthened by the belief that, so long as all actions of the state are duly authorized by legislation, the Rule of Law will be preserved. But this is completely to misconceive the meaning of the Rule of Law.

Excerpted under Fair Use for purposes of non-commercial education, discussion and comment. Any transcription or typographical errors are mine.