Month: January 2010

Contributed by: filbert Thursday, January 14 2010 @ 09:30 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!

Explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
ALA pulls out of Tea Party Nation convention [*1] — more problems for the Nashville Tea Party convention?
Our Duty To Mankind [*2] — “Make no mistake: it is wealth that feeds the hungry, cures the sick, and mends the broken. Capitalism is the practical expression of freedom, and wealth allows the tangible expression of compassion.”
It’s the End of the End of History As We Know it [*3] — “Freedom, for which liberal democracy is a conduit rather than the other way round, can never be assured of its final victory, can never be taken for granted. Its enemies, among which the most insidious reside inside rather than outside the West, will always threaten it.”
Thune For President? [*4] — It’s not that I dislike Thune, exactly, it’s just . . . well . . . he did go to USD, after all . . .
Ugly Race for the “People’s Seat” [*5] — “The man deserves to win just for being lippy with the always awful David Gergen.”
‘Safe’ Kennedy seat now up for grabs [*6]
Sarah Palin’s debut as Fox News commentator on ‘O’Reilly Factor’ goes smoothly[*7] — Palin’s greatest strength is that she’s “one of us.” Beltway Blatherers and Collectivist Elitists everywhere just don’t understand that.
Among the Reasons For Discomfort When Some Call the US a Christian Nation [*8] — if you’re threatened by Christians, you don’t understand Christianity. Of course, many “Christians” don’t understand Christianity, so some “discomfort” may be understandable . . .
Truths We Dare Not Speak [*9] — My favorite: “4) The Ivy League is a Naked Emperor.” Ivy League “intellectuals” and their elite-school allies are the ones who have driven this country completely over the cliff . . .

More after the “Read More” . . . The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
It’s come to this: Scott Brown’s a “far-right tea-bagger,” says Chuck Schumer [*10]
After Obama Tells America “Everyone Must Sacrifice” the White House Throws 1 Party Every 3 Days in First Year [*11] — “Do as I say, not as I do” . . .

The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
Gingrich: I’m a top-tier contender for the 2012 nomination [*12] — Dear Newt: Your best and highest use to the nation is at a think tank somewhere, not the Oval Office . . . kthxbai . . .
Some Advice for the Republican National Committee [*13] — Shorter: Listen to the people, not to the Beltway Blatherers . . .

Spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies–because even blithering idiots can be dangerous:
IRS Commissioner Does Not Do His Own Taxes Because of Complexity of Code [*14] — Anybody detect even a teensy little problem with this?
Massachusetts’ Chief Law Enforcement Official Ignores Political Assault; UPDATE: DSCC’s Meehan Apologizes [*15] — You can file this under “What do Democrats do? They LIE.”
President Obama’s political arm under fire [*16] — As Glenn Reynolds notes–Does he have a non-political arm?[*17]
BREAKING: Coakley Thug Who Roughed-Up Weekly Standard Reporter is Obama Appointee (Updated) [*18]
Reid: Doc-fix? What doc-fix? [*19]
First Coakley, Now Kerry: Panic In Mass. [*20]
Department of Injustice Watch: New Black Panther Party scandal update [*21] — When I use the word “corruption” this is part of what I refer to . . .
The Timeless Appeal of Triumphalism [*22]
The White House’s Media Feedback Loop [*23] — “Feedback Loop” is sort of an echo chamber, plugged into an amplifier . . . not only do you blow out the amp, you also rupture your eardrums . . .
“walk in Stalin’s shoes and Hitler’s shoes” [*24] — um, no, thank you, Oliver Stone, but no, I don’t care to slaughter tens of millions of my fellow human beings–that’s just a funny little personal quirk of mine, though . . .
When Will the Democratic Party Grow Up and Seriously Address National Security? [*25]
Who Will Tell Obama? [*26] — “We do know that for three hours, it occurred to no one to let the leader of the free world know about a thwarted terrorist bombing on an American plane.”
Ending Corruption in Washington [*27] — The only way to drain the swamp is to remove the water . . . which means take the money away from them . . . because money IS power . . .
Can a big company have a soul? [*28] — um . . . no. People have souls. Companies have people. This is easy to forget . . .

Foreign affairs:
Why Is Everything Still Standing In the Dominican Republic? [*29]
Barack Obama’s America-effacing policy — a warning from John Bolton [*30] — Bolton is someone You Need To Listen To . . . as uncomfortable as some of you might find that . . .
Is Obama a Republican?: When it comes to foreign policy, it’s hard to tell Barack Obama and George W. Bush apart [*31] — um, no. Bush was a “cowboy.” Obama is a “blithering idiot.”
Revolution in Iran: ‘Soraya’s’ Message of Defiance an Underground Hit [*32]
Vinson Deploys to Respond to Haiti Earthquake [*33] — The most capable single humanitarian organization in the world is the military of the United States of America. This is something to be very, very proud of if you’re an American. “No better friend, no worse enemy,” as the Marines say . . .

The Economy:
Faux Recovery: Don’t believe the hype about green jobs [*34] — because, you know, it’s a market failure . . .
A Real Stimulus: To create jobs, repeal the corporate-income tax. [*35]
After Tripling Deficit in 2009 Obama On Track to Nearly Quadruple Bush Deficit in 2010 [*36] — Heckofa job, Barry . . .
Overhaul base at KCI may gain new tenant [*37] — it’s not all bad news out there–if this pans out, anyway . . .

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Cold Spell Doesn’t Undercut Climate Crisis – But Other Things Do [*38]
Climategate—The CTM story [*39]
Climategate: How to Hide the Sun [*40]
Antarctica and the Myth of Deadly Rising Seas [*41]
Spencer: A Demonstration that Global Warming Predictions are Based More On Faith than On Science [*42]
Unreal. Climategate Junk Scientist Michael Mann Awarded Half a Million in Stimulus Cash [*43] — “Hey, your entire body of research is based on bogus data and skewed, politicized science? Great! Here’s more cash!”

Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
Obama’s Prescription for Low-Wage Workers: High Implicit Taxes, Higher Premiums [*44] — If this monstrosity passes, don’t say you weren’t warned . . .
Who Wants to Tax a Millionaire?: The “millionaire’s tax” will affect more people than you think. [*45] — Rich people don’t get rich by being stupid, you know . . .
Trouble in paradise? Morning meeting on ObamaCare turns into “intense” all-day session [*46] — Dear House Dems: Pass this now and die in droves in November. Actually, you’re probably going to die in droves in November anyway, but why at this point make it worse? Do you want to lose control of the House? Really? Really, really?
But What Happens if People Actually Change Their Behavior? [*47] — The big-government schemes of the collectivists never take into account the simple fact that people change their behavior to optimize their own futures. They always think that everything will just tick along the same no matter what they do to people and the economy. That’s why they’re always wrong . . .

Media bias–and incompetence:
John Yoo Wipes the Smirk off Jon Stewart’s Face [*48] — actually, nobody expects Jon Stewart to be “fair and balanced” . . . but being intellectually blown out of the water is Comedy Death . . .
Mistakes a High School Newspaper Wouldn’t Make [*49]

Sports:
Not according to schedule: Time for BCS schools to schedule tough nonconference road games vs. mid-majors [*50] — Women’s basketball, but really applies to men’s BB as well . . .
Collins scores 22 in No. 3 Kansas’ 84-72 win [*51]

Science, technology, and space:
The Death Star? [*52] — Just goes to show, supernovae can ruin your entire day . . .
747-8 interactive [*53]

Miscellany:
Boulevard Brewing Co. plans $4 million in capital improvements [*54] — Mmmmmm . . . Beer . . . Mmmmmm . . . Pilsner Beer . . .
Washington University to launch executive education program in KC [*55] — Oh, sure. AFTER I get an MBA from the U. of Phoenix, WashU moves in . . .although with WashU at $93k, UoP is just fine . . .

Contributed by: filbert Thursday, January 14 2010 @ 07:44 AM CST

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

It is very significant and characteristic that socialists (and Nazis) have always protested against “merely” formal justice, that they have always objected to a law which had no view on how well off particular people ought to be, and that they have always demanded a “socialization of the law,” attacked the independence of judges, and at the same time given their support to such movements as the Freirechtsschule which undermined the Rule of Law.

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 13 2010 @ 01:27 PM CST

I know it’s not morning. I’m busy, OK?

Anyway . . . 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!

Travel:
Prinsendam in Dry Dock [*1]

Explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
Ed Crane’s Hopes for This Fine Publication [*2]
A short note on privacy [*3] — I’m not sure I totally agree with Tigerhawk, but I’m not particularly hysterical about airport full-body-scans, either . . .
Libertarian Cavemen in the Big Apple [*4] — I’m not sure if this belongs here or in Miscellany . . .
Scott Brown Challenges Old Way of Doing Things [*5]
Open Source Democracy: Are bloggers the new government watchdog? [*6]
A Democrat takes on Chicago’s culture of corruption. Really. [*7] — “The culture of corruption runs throughout Chicago’s history, one hand washing the other,” said Hoffman in an interview last week. “It’s not about serving the public. But it is all about maintaining and controlling power.” You see? Big-D Democrats who do get it about the proper role of government, and aren’t lowlife pond-scum, do really exist! It’s just a pity that they’re seemingly so very, very rare. And they almost always change their tune when they get into political office, especially when they get to Washington.
Filibusters and Our Founders [*8]
Dems at risk in 8-9 Senate seats in 2010 [*9]
Feingold gets town-hall fury over ObamaCare [*10] — I did say yesterday I had grudging respect for Feingold . . . emphasis on the “grudging” . . .
About the Tea Party Convention in Tennessee [*11] — The Boystown boys have doubts . . . I admit a bit of wariness myself . . .
To my fellow conservatives and libertarians: A third party is not the answer. [*12] — Taking over the Republican Party is preferable . . . and IMHO easier . . .
James Hudnall: Sarah Palin: ‘Backwoods Barbie’ or Crazy Like a Fox?; Updated [*13]
The Way Our World Works [*14] — wherein Hubris invites Nemesis . . .
Inevitable: Nevada Senate race now rated “lean takeover” [*15]
Perfect Storm Brewing for Brown in Bay State? [*16]
An Interview with Christopher Hitchens, Part II [*17]
The reasons behind some of the things that we do [*18] — one of the difficulties people on the Right have is that they have a hard time believing that the collectivists could possibly be that manipulative, cynical, and calculating. This is why converts (or more properly, refugees) from the Leftist camp are so very valuable. They let us know how the enemies of liberty think.
Anger With Obama Re-Ignites Secesh Talk … In Vermont [*19] — Vermont?
Lisa Graas: “The Train Has Left the Station” [*20]
Wouldn’t It Be Better to Stop Obamacare Now and Argue About Property Taxes A Little Later? [*21]
Five Reasons Why Libertarians Shouldn’t Hate Government–Plus, Five Big Projects That Went Well and Five That Were Disasters [*22]
I Don’t See Your Name on the List… [*23] — A response/comment on the previous . . .

Much more after the “Read More” . . . The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
$787 Billion in Stimulus, Zero Jobs “Created or Saved” [*24]
Obama Going on Six Months Without a Press Conference [*25] — “It’s Good To Be The King!” Except, you know, he isn’t . . .
How Much Did Obama’s Copenhagen Failure Cost You? [*26]
CNN poll: Obama 1st year a flop, 48%/47% [*27]
Harry Reid’s Swansong [*28]

The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
Bernie Quigley: The Republicans’ War on Palin [*29]

Spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies–because even blithering idiots can be dangerous:
Hamas Terrorists Guaranteed Code Pink’s Safety in Gaza [*30] — “birds of a feather . . .”
Nice Work… New Coakley Attack Ad Misspells Massachusetts [*31]
IBD Poll: Obama’s Independent Woes Intensify [*32]
How Terrorism Wins – Part II [*33] — With every attack attempt, we lose a bit more of our freedom. This is ‘winning?’ We need to re-think this . . . and yeah, I was pretty much on-board with a lot of what the Bush Administration did in response to 9-11–mainly in vigorously and violently going after those who actually did the attacking. Having to take off my shoes at the airport security checkpoint–not so much . . .
He’s the President, Not America’s ‘Daddy’ [*34]
As Brown Raises $1.3 Million from Citizens ‘Round the Country, Coakley Calls In Big Money From… Health Care/Pharma Lobbyists [*35] — Remind me again, which one is the “party of the Special Interests?” Oh, yeah, both of them are . . .
Believe It Or Not, Freddie/Fannie Scandal Worse Than You Thought: It’s Fraud on a Massive Scale [*36] — Fraud is bad, m’kay? Government sponsored and backed fraud is worse . . . “These rotten bastards built the bomb, they detonated, they stuck us with the massive clean-up costs, and they’re building an even bigger bomb right now. They Must Be Stopped. WE, The People, Must Stop Them.
Desperation time: DSCC suddenly buys $570K in MA ad time [*37]
Class War: How public servants became our masters [*38]
Oliver Stone: I Got Your Hitler Context Right Here [*39]
Libtards and right-wingnuts — thoughts after an Instalanche [*40] — Don’t know where to put this, so it goes here.
Where’s the brave art world that stood up to John Ashcroft? [*41]
Cutting the Right Expenses [*42] — another reason why government never, ever gets smaller . . .
The Government Will Do Anything to Keep Us Safe–Except End the Empire [*43] — I’m OK with Bringing The Boys (and Girls) Back Home, as long as it’s accompanied with keeping a sufficiently lethal global strike force on hand, and keeping the willingness to use it ruthlessly against barbarians still amok in the world . . . “Don’t Tread On Me.”
The Left: Bending Over Backwards to Excuse Racism [*44]
MA Dems Recognize Health Care Not a Winning Issue [*45]
Union Race to the Bottom [*46]
If you want to see EXACTLY how bad the Left’s sexism and misogyny is, go to AintItCoolNews.com [*47]
Purple Army to Coakley’s rescue: SEIU sends $685,000 more; And speaking of thugs… [*48] — Why don’t we treat unions as what they are: political action committees for leftist causes?
More Evidence That Scott Brown’s Surge Has Democrats Spooked [*49]
Didn’t you know unions paid their members to go out and do visibility for people like Martha Coakely? [*50]
Here’s a Label: “Stupid” [*51]
Video: Coakley associate shoves Weekly Standard reporter; Update: Photo of assailant [*52] — Isn’t it odd that, despite all the histrionic rhetoric of the collectivists, all of the actual political violence like this comes from them, not from the Right?
Quinnipiac: Obama approval 45% [*53] — Like the crash of the Hindenberg, only slower . . .
Uncommon Knowledge: Dr. Thomas Sowell on Intellectuls and Society – Talking Sense to Obama’s Cabinet Like Telling the Mafia to Go Straight [*54]
Obama’s rapturous style versus tea party substance [*55]
Caffeinated Thoughts: A Little Perspective on Steve Schmidt [*56] — The impression I get is that Steve Schmidt cares mainly about Steve Schmidt . . .
Five Reasons Why Libertarians Shouldn’t Hate Government–Plus, Five Big Projects That Went Well and Five That Were Disasters [*22]
Crony Capitalism IV[*57]
Naive? Dumb? Or Just Doesn’t Understand How Taxes Work? [*58]

Foreign affairs:
India Developing ‘Kill Vehicle’ to Knock Enemy Satellites Out of the Sky [*59]
Google says may pull out of China after Web attacks [*60] — Anybody wonder why a U.S. company has a foreign policy?
Why Intelligence Keeps Failing [*61]
The Breaking of Nations [*62]
Intensity [*63] — Haiti . . .
UN Anti-Corruption Office Closed [*64] — “Our work here is done!”
EU Foreign Minister on UK Losing UN Security Council Seat: “I Don’t Know.” [*65]

The Economy:
Jobless rate really at 22%? [*66] — “Brother, can you spare a dime?”
Lack of Job Creation, Not Layoffs, Driving Unemployment [*67]
Chamber of Commerce Warning: Dem Policies Will Lead to Double-Dip Recession [*68]

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
New study argues climate change was not responsible for the Agricultural Revolution [*69]
CNN’s Jack Cafferty asks for climate feedback [*70]
The Limits of Science [*71]
Climategate: The Mosher Timeline [*72]

Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
Making a Bad Bill Worse [*73]
The House Health Care Bill: Sticking it to Small Business [*74]
Not Out of Pocket, Out of Mind [*75]
Health Reform Bill – Makes Bernie Madoff Seem Like A Piker [*76]
USA Today reports on unrealistic revenue, savings expectations in ObamaCare [*77]
How 4 Deaths Became 401,309 [*78] — Statistics, How To Lie With.
The Truth about ObamaCare [*79] — Let me guess . . . um . . . it’s a cobbled up mess of pork and political payoffs, mixed in with a breathtakingly large power grab, being rammed down the throats of an unwilling public by an out of control Democrat political class? Or that it, as all such programs do, simultaneously won’t do what the politicians promise, and will cost way, way, way too much money? Maybe both?
Wouldn’t It Be Better to Stop Obamacare Now and Argue About Property Taxes A Little Later? [*21]
How the White House Used Gruber’s Work to Create Appearance of Broad Consensus [*80]

Media bias–and incompetence:
Why Is the Media So Much Smarter About Legislation After it is Passed [*81]

Sports:
SDSU-NDSU games to be televised [*82]
Jackrabbits and Bison battle in Fargo on Friday [*83]
Sports briefs: SDSU to play in preseason WNIT [*84]
Circling the Summit [*85]

Science, technology, and space:
The Madness of Crowds and an Internet Delusion [*86] — “it is striking how many of the top-grossing acts began in the predigital era, and how much of today’s music is a mash-up of the old” . . . hmm . . . “The result is a problem a bit like trying to stop a mob of looters. When the majority of people feel entitled to someone’s property, who’s going to stand in their way?” . . . hmm, hmm. I’m going to have to think about this–it has the ring of truth right now . . . but on the other hand, we don’t shoot looters any more, either . . . we elect them to Congress . . .
Astronauts urine clogs space station water recycler [*87]
The Dogs Versus the Internet [*88] –“In many ways the issues Lanier brings up go back to the very roots of markets and democracy, to issues that were hotly debated at the time America was founded. Who owns your product? Can you consent to sell yourself into bondage?”
Peanut allergies less common than tests suggest [*89]

Science Fiction and Writing:
Spider-Man 4 dead, franchise rebooting[*90]
Did You Save? [*91] — This reminded me to turn my Time Machine backup back on . . .
Liberals and Libertarians at the Movies [*92]
Avatards [*93] — almost went to Miscellany, almost went to . . . well, it wound up here.

Miscellany:
How Did I Miss This? Scott Brown Posed Semi-Nude for Cosmo As College Student at BC [*94] — Obama, Palin, Brown . . . the age of Political Beefcake/Cheesecake?
On this rare map, China is the center of the world [*95] — Well, it’s not called the “Middle Kingdom” for nothing . . .

Contributed by: filbert Wednesday, January 13 2010 @ 07:42 AM CST

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

. . . formal equality before the law is in conflict, and in fact incompatible, with any activity of the government deliberately aiming at material or substantive equality of different people, and . . . any policy aiming directly at a substantive ideal of distributive justice must lead to the destruction of the Rule of Law. To produce the same result for different people, it is necessary to treat them differently. To give different people the same objective opportunities is not to give them the same subjective chance. It cannot be denied that the Rule of Law produces economic inequality–all that can be claimed for it is that this inequality is not designed to affect particular people in a particular way.

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 12 2010 @ 11:06 AM CST

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

Anyway–“I surf the Web, so you don’t have to!”

Travel:
Harry Reid: US Airways ‘shortsighted’ for axing Las Vegas hub [*1] — Well, Harry: a) US Airways has a hub–and is based–in Phoenix, and b) there’s a recession going on and airlines are hanging on by their fingernails, in case you haven’t noticed . . .
JFK’s largest runway to close for 4 months[*2]
Are Total Body Scanners Safe? The Jury Is Still Out [*3]
Body scanners can store, send images, group says[*4]
Just Say No to Airport Paranoia [*5]
Is flying still worth the hassle? 27% of U.S. travelers say ‘no’ [*6]
JFK to Close a Runway for Four Months, Prepare to Cry [*7] — “it’s gonna suck.”

More after the “Read More” . . . Explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
Palin Signs on With FoxNews, as Contributor [*8] The “Arctic Fox” lands on her feet, again–and fittingly, with Fox News . . .
Palin signs “multi-year” deal to become Fox analyst [*9]
Tim Pawlenty Endorses Scott Brown [*10]
Report from the Tea Party in front of the Auto Show at the Cobo Center in Detroit (with video) [*11] — the guy’s a prof at Oakland U. but I’ll forgive him that . . .
He did it: Brown raises $500,000 in single day, now pushing for $750,000 [*12]
Sarah Palin Gets Her Old Job Back [*13] — In case you haven’t noticed, I believe Sarah Palin “gets” liberty and freedom, in a way that the leadership of the Democratic Party (or the Republican Party, come to think of it) simply doesn’t. I like Palin. Those others–not so much.
Palin to Debut as Fox News Contributor Tomorrow on O’Reilly (Updated with Promo Video) [*14] — “Tomorrow” being today, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.
Amazing: Scott Brown about to raise $1 million for the day; Update: Done! [*15]
Chalk One Up? [*16]
Can Mr. Brown go to Washington? [*17]
The Second Boston Tea Party? [*18]
Fifteen Minutes that Changed Libertarian Publishing [*19]
Mises.org on iTunes U [*20]
Rage against machine [*21]
Brown for Senate [*22]
Scott Brown’s Money-Bomb Racks Up $1.3 Million in One Day [*23]
Colleen O’Conner: Governor Palin is “Captain and Commander” of Her Own Ship [*24]
Leslie Sanchez: Palin Taking a Page From Reagan Playbook [*25]

The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
A C-SPANer in the works, or “Read my lips” for Obama [*26] — Although technically, we, collectively, voted for Obama, which makes us all, collectively, blithering idiots I’m afraid . . .
So much for shovel-ready projects [*27] — “Jobs? You wanted Jobs? Oh, sorry. Our bad. We thought you wanted Pork and Political Spoils. Well, some of you, anyway–the ones who gave us gobs of cash in 2008. Anyway, gosh, we’re so sorry about this niggardly little mixup! (Can we use that word? Oh, it’s OK? Cool.) Vote for us this November and we’ll get right on fixing it all up. It’s Bush’s fault, anyway.” — your friends, the Democrats.
Obama Blew His First Important Decision [*28] — Joe Biden. Joe Biden?
Obama quietly abandons magical “jobs created or saved” metric for even phonier metric [*29] — ““Instead, recipients will more easily and objectively report on jobs funded with Recovery Act dollars,” Orszag wrote.” Crossing that line from idiot to moron. Assuming there is a line, that is . . .
Oh my: Obama under 50% approval for first time in CBS poll [*30] — People to Obama: We don’t love you any more. (A lot of us never really did.)
Feingold Criticizes Reid, Declines to Endorse Him as Leader [*31] — I actually have a grudging respect for Russ Feingold. I disagree with him on almost every policy position you can think of, but the man does appear to have the courage of his convictions, unlike 99% of the Congressweasels he serves with . . .
Philip Klein: An Elitist RINO Who Doesn’t Understand Sarah Palin’s Appeal to Real Americans [*32] — Heh (to coin a quip) . . .
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT’S NOT THE KENNEDYS’ SEAT, IT’S NOT THE DEMOCRATS’ SEAT, IT’S THE PEOPLE’S SEAT. [*33]
Coakley says no more terrorists in Afghanistan [*34] — And yet she thinks she’s qualified to be Massachusetts’ senator . . .
Dodd’s agenda backfired right before his eyes [*35]

The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
You Know, David Brooks Is Sort of an Elitist Crypto-Fascist Douchebag [*36] — OK, David Brooks isn’t in the Republican Leadership, being the house “conservative” of the New York Times. Doesn’t matter. He is a blithering idiot.

Spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies–because even blithering idiots can be dangerous:
Conflict of Interest? What Conflict of Interest? [*37]
P.C. Never Died [*38] — University speech codes are the front line of the conflict between freedom and its enemies. (Hint: if you’re for a speech code at a university, then you’re an illiberal thug. If your response to those you disagree with is to shout them down, you’re an illiberal thug. Universities are infested with illiberal thugs masquerading as “liberal” “progressives.”)
Dems’ Dirty Deals [*39] — it’s about health care, but we all know now, it’s not really about health care. It’s about Them controlling the rest of Us, who just want to mind our own business.
Obama Ally Code Pink Invites Muslim Brotherhood: ‘Join Us In Cleansing Our Country’ [*40]
Horseshoes, Hand Grenades, and the FCC: Will the Courts Ground Internet Regulation? [*41]
New Year Pessimism [*42]
The Shaky Science Underlying New York’s Salt Assault [*43]
How Ukrainian Soccer Explains Planned Economies [*44]
Man Verbally Attacks Bush [*45] — see above discussion of university speech codes . . .
Weird Old Crackpot Novelist: To Me Hell Is the United States of Today [*46]
Court to FCC: “You can’t get an unbridled, roving commission to go about doing good.” [*47] — An argument for abolishing the FCC. If a governmental department overreaches, the proper response of the People is to terminate it, with extreme prejudice.
The Power Of Thin Skin [*48] — Ignore, Ridicule, Spin, Deny, Lie. That’s the all-too-familiar progression of the frequent leftist assaults on truth. It’s well past time they got a heaping dose of their own medicine.
AP source: Obama considers levy for rescued firms [*49] — The Government Giveth and the Government Taketh Away. “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take away everything you have.”
Sarah Palin: One more reason to not watch Fox News [*50] — More even-handed caring and compassion from the collectivists . . .
I Wonder If Gergen Realizes That Was The Election [*51]
Wheels Coming Off for Massachusetts Democrats? [*52]
Scott Brown’s Inverse “Macaca Moment” [*53]
Blue to Red: Massachusetts Senate Race [*54]
Some Americans Need Help [*55]
Oliver Stone’s history: so banal, and yet so offensive [*56]
That Other War [*57] — Possibly Reagan’s biggest mistake was ramping up the “War on Drugs.”
Harry Reid and the Costs of Expanding the Definition of Racism [*58]
MIT economist and federal contractor Jonathan Gruber denies conflict of interest despite advocacy for Obama health plan [*59]

Foreign affairs:
Iran and Its Revolutions [*60]
Islam and the West: ‘Overlapping Consensus’ or Capitulation? [*61]
Exo-atmospheric [*62]
A New Pirate Catcher: The U.S.S. Independence [*63]

The Economy:
Golden State Off the Rails As Mass Transit Ridership Plummets [*64]
Chinese officials fled overseas with $50 billion [*65] — Huh. Totalitarian governments are populated with crooks. Who’d have thunk it?
A Tsunami of BS [*66]
The IRS Is Auditing Harvard [*67]
Tax Audits Are No Laughing Matter: A president shouldn’t even joke about abusing IRS power. [*68] — As Harvard is about to find out (unless, of course, political pressure is put on the IRS to softball Harvard . . . any bets on whether or not that happens?)

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Pope denounces failure to forge new climate treaty [*69] — While I’m reluctant to call the Pope a blithering idiot . . . I was raised Lutheran, after all . . .
Mini-Ice Age? [*70]
Freeze mauls Florida citrus, significant damage seen [*71]
So Hot, We’ll Freeze to Death [*72]
IPCC scientist: Global cooling headed our way for the next 30 years? [*73]
Modeling to the 2nd degree: back to the future [*74]
Not as bad as they thought: Coral can recover from climate change damage [*75]
To plow or not to plow? The cost of inaction can be higher [*76]
Baby, It’s Cold Outside [*77]
Central Florida citrus growers hit by freeze again [*78]

Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
Opposition to Government Medicine Remains Firm [*79] — Unfortunately, so does the determination of the blithering idiots in Washington to pass the damn thing . . .

Media bias–and incompetence:
Media does matter for America [*80]
More disgrace at NPR [*81]
NYT & David Brooks: Intellectuals Я Us [*82]
Atlantic Columnist Condemns Boring, Longwinded Journalism [*83]

Sports:
Oakland Returns to Mid-Major Top 25 Poll [*84] — Speaking earlier of Oakland . . . the one in Michigan . . .
Tarkanian blasts NCAA as ‘crookedest’ organization [*85]
SDSU comeback falls short in KC [*86] — Women’s basketball: new year, new teams. This is what’s great about college sports–it always changes.
Sports briefs: UMKC never trails, tops SDSU women [*87]
Mecklenburg’s message: ‘Control your own future’ [*88] — “Success is overcoming obstacles on the way to your dreams. You’ll never know what you’re capable of unless you have the courage to step out and try new things.”
Tuesday Tidbits [*89]

Science, technology, and space:
Reuters: Apple Tablet to ship in Q2, enclosure to be brushed aluminum [*90]
NYT: Apple Tablet to require “complex new vocabulary” of gestures, include iWork [*91]
Q+A: What’s driving China’s latest Web crackdown [*92]
CES: An electric Snuggie [*93] — Again . . . when I was growing up, “snuggie” had an entirely different meaning . . .

Science Fiction and Writing:
Kevin Burns Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Reboot [*94]

Miscellany:
Christopher Elbow to open ice cream shop south of Plaza [*95]
Raft or bridge: How did iguanas reach tiny Pacific islands? [*96]
Lincoln’s MKX crossover takes aim at Audi, Lexus[*97]
REVIEW: Spirit of John Hughes Returns With ‘Youth In Revolt’[*98]

Contributed by: filbert Tuesday, January 12 2010 @ 07:42 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, more than the rule of contract, should probably be regarded as the true opposite of the rule of status. It is the Rule of Law, in the sense of the rule of formal law, teh absence of legal privileges of particular people designated by authority, which safeguards that equality before the law which is the opposite of arbitrary government.

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 11 2011 @ 05:23 PM CST

As a general principle, I am opposed to killing people. I think it sets a bad precedent, for one thing (after all, somebody else might get it into their head to kill me). Then there’s that whole Sixth Commandment thing, although many scholars allow as how it should most properly be read as “Thou Shalt Not Murder,” not “Thou Shalt Not Kill.”

Generally, the doctrine of “live and let live” pretty much sums up one major pillar of my personal philosophy. If you combine that with “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” you have, I think, a pretty even-handed–dare I say . . . liberal philosophy of life that would stand almost everyone in good stead in almost every situation.

Leave people alone who want to be left alone; help people who want to be helped; offer help to those who need it but maybe aren’t ready to accept it yet, but don’t press them to take help they do not want. How much better a world would we live in if everyone lived that way?

Unfortunately, the world is filled with people who do not want to leave other people alone, who want to help people who do not need or want help, and are willing to do almost anything to justify their behavior after the fact.

This is dangerous behavior.

In short, it pisses people off.

At some point, you have the problem of people who will not take “no” for an answer. “No, you can’t have my goat.” “No, you can’t have my wallet.” “No, you can’t have my house.” “No, you can’t have my daughter.” “No, you can’t have sex with me right now.”

What do you do with people who don’t take “no” for an answer? What can you do? They won’t let you “live and let live.” They quite obviously do not believe in “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Maybe, somewhere, in their own minds, they think they’re helping you. They’ve convinced themselves that they know better than you how you should run your life, spend your money, use your belongings, conduct your sexual relations.

There comes a point where a man–or a woman–of peace will draw the line. That line is the one between the killing of another human as an act of evil, and an act of self-defense.

Where should that line be?

Should a woman, in imminent danger of being raped, be held guilty for killing her assailant? Should a man, seeing another man pull a pistol up to shoot him, feel guilty in pulling the trigger of his shotgun?

It seems to me that the line is the certain and imminent physical danger to you or to someone near you–then and then only are you justified in taking the life of the person who is offering that certain, imminent physical threat.

Anything less than that should be the domain of law, and of politics.

“Live and let live” goes both ways. It does not however require anyone to meekly acquiesce in being beaten, abused, of slaughtered by another person. Some people, and some acts, require a violent, deadly response.

And afterwards, people of good conscience will have to struggle with the aftermath, console the survivors and the friends and relatives of those who did not survive, and meditate upon the flawed and imperfect nature of the human animal.

And we will all go on. Somehow.

Contributed by: filbert Monday, January 11 2010 @ 09:40 AM CST

TFTD Returns! Hope you enjoyed the Thought-free holidays!

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

There can be no doubt that (central) planning necessarily involves deliberate discrimination between particular needs of different people, and allowing one man to do what another must be prevented from doing. It must lay down by a legal rule how well off particular people shall be and what different people are to be allowed to have and do. It means in effect a return to the rule of status, a reversal of the “movement of progressive societies” which, in the famous phrase of Sir Henry Maine, “has hitherto been a movement from status to contract.”

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