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9.30.00
The Culture of Death sunk its claws even deeper into the American landscape this week. The FDA approved the use of RU-486. When taken with another drug, a pregnant mother can kill her unborn child. Robert George writes:
A mother can now think much less about the moral consequences of abortion. There is no need to go to a clinic. In the space of three decades, abortion has moved from "back alleys" to "clinics" to doctors offices and, now, for all intents and purposes to the privacy of our own homes.
Instant gratification has reached the point that if the great sex a few days before causes an unintended pregnancy, the woman can just get a doctor to write out a prescription. Little thought is needed; no consulting of the father or the parents. Just pop a few pills and POOF! No more pregnancy. 30 million plus children have been killed since Roe v. Wade ended almost any state restrictions in 1973. How many more will die because of the FDA's actions? This week's event made the fight for life that much harder, but as King's X sang "The fight for life is always real."
"Glory to the newborn."
Legal Kill--King's X
"Jagged Little Pill"
Robert P. George (not the writer linked above) gets the Quote of Day:
RU-486 is simply a chemical method of killing — the Zyklon B of the abortion industry.
"The Meaning of the Pill"
9.29.00
Quote of the Day goes to Lucianne Goldberg. When asked whether she would produce a TV show in the U.S. starring Monica Lewinsky, Goldberg said, "Sure. Absolutely. She has a lot to talk about now that her mouth isn't full."
"Lucianne & the Art of Moleing"
I want a sound system in my house like the one at the Barnes & Noble I work at. Last night, after booting out all the customers, I popped in the Chemical Brother's Dig Your Own Hole. There's nothing like "Block Rocking Beats" blaring through Bose speakers in an open space. It sure beats the dinky little CD boom box I've used for years.
Peggy Noonan offers GW some great advice for the up-coming debate with Prince Albert. Noonan writes, "Don't wait for him to go at you and then swing back. Come out and assert, set the pace, let him react to you. Put him on the defensive." She's right. GW has to be on the offensive without being offensive. It takes a certain personality and agility to pull it off. Reagan did it with humor and self-deprecation. GW has to do it with Texan slyness and a good-natured approach. He should watch Rick Lazio's trouncing of Hillary a few weeks back for some pointers.
"The Big Debate"
This is a laugh-out-loud quote from Eric Gustafson:
I would hate to be a mother. They exhaust themselves trying to civilize us, and we repay them by watching The Three Stooges and letting our pants ride halfway down our bottoms.
Except for the part about watching The Three Stooges and keeping my pants pulled up, I agree with everything he said.
"Life's too Short"
Lazaro Gonzalez and his family seek some justice over the Easter Raid by suing the U.S. government. I hope they win.
"Elian's Miami Relatives Sue Reno Over Raid"
Yesterday, the last game was played at Milwaukee County Stadium. I was one of those 64 million plus who went to County Stadium. I probably saw a few dozen Brewers games there. My earliest County Stadium memories are some fuzzy images of when my father took me to see a double header against the Detroit Tigers when I was 6 or 7. My two favorite memories are when I saw Mark McGwire hit his 64th home run during his magical 1998 season and seeing former Brewers owner (and now baseball commisioner) Bud Selig standing in line just like any other fan waiting to buy at bratwurst. I would have loved to be at that last game just to take in the atmosphere and let some of the old place's history envelope me. Three World Series were played there along with two All-Star Games. Vince Lombardi won a playoff game at County Stadium that allowed the famous Ice Bowl to take place. Brett Favre kick-started the Packers' playoff run by beating the Atlanta Falcons. Plenty of history to soak in.
After the Brewers' loss to Cincinnati, a ceremony took place honoring some of the greats who played at County Stadium. Hank Aaron, Warran Spahn, Paul Molitor, and Willie Davis were just a few of the legends there. The highlight was hall-of-famer Robin Yount riding around the field on a Harley-Davidson reminiscent of his cycle ride in 1982.
I'll finish the way the ceremony finished: with these words from Brewers announcer Bob Uecker.
One thing remains, a bond between heroes and fans, an ambition to succeed. It was here that boys became men, and men became champions, and champions became legends. I have been here as a fan and a player and, in the last 30 years, as a broadcaster. But tonight is the final curtain; it's time to say goodbye.
We will never forget you. For what was, will always be. So long, old friend, and good night, everybody.
"'So Long, Old Friend,' Crowd Says to Ballpark"
9.27.00
The U.S. Census reports that the Reagan economic boom has lifted Americans to historic levels of prosperity. Credit must also be given to the Republican-controlled Congress who forced Bill Clinton to end welfare. I'm being so partisan for two reasons: first, it's true. Clinton has not initiated any plan to encourage economic growth. In fact, if many of Bill's ideas were enacted into law, we might be complaining about huge budget deficits, socialized health care, and high taxes. Second, Bill has been lucky that his government-expanding ideas died with the arrival of a Republican Congress, and that he has a central banker who understands the high value of a stable dollar. He has been prevented from harming the great prosperity we have.
"Booming Economy Lifts all Boats"
For those TAM readers interested in a free market economic source, I recommend the Dallas Federal Reserve web site. I've only followed a few of the links, but I've already found a nice essay on my favorite economist, F. A. Hayek and one on Frédéric Bastiat. Not bad for an central banking institution.
9.26.00
Anyone who's really surprised by this legal battle obviously came from the Al Gore School of Lying. Who really thought she married the old man simply out of love?
"Anna Nicole Smith Seeks Late Husband's Fortune"
Just like liberals, conservatives need to be blasted when they do dumb things. I don't buy the psychobabble the "experts" offered because spanking can be a useful punishment. A few times during my childhood, I received a good whack on the tush for being a bad boy. (Now, I'm my mom's favorite son.) But parents don't need a 2 1/2 hour workshop with a live demonstration on how to spank kids. And running the workshop while shouting out Bible passage after Bible passage makes me think Marvin Munyon is a little insecure with his beliefs.
Also, don't forget to notice that Mr. Munyon was called a "conservative leader." I don't recall ever hearing the anti-trade protesters in Seattle, D.C., or LA referred to as "liberals" or "socialists." The woman who lived in a tree for 2 years, Julia Butterfly Hill was never called a "liberal environmentalist." Heck, the media rarely uses those labels at all, but they freely throw around terms like "conservative" and "hard right."
Visit the Media Research Center for the latest in the on-going saga of liberal media bias.
"Conservative Leader Holds Spanking Demonstration" [via genehack]
John, TAM's unofficial bioguru, has this to say on the new science of proteomics:
In about ten years or so, we're going to run out of these massive single-shot solutions, and people are going to realize that the totality of information (mRNA levels, protein levels, protein and mRNA localization, etc) is where the killer app is (IMHO, of course).
I'm not sure exactly what that all means but read the Wired News article he found. The mapping of the human genome was just the tip of the iceberg in the Biotech Revolution.
"Protein and the Lean Machines"
John Fund covers some misleading aspects of political polls. He would love to see some reporters critically analyze these polls, but he says they won't because "It would take some courage for a media organization to critique its own polls and those of its competitors." Why actually work for a good story when you could just regurgitate a poll's results?
"Poll Sharks"
Did Julia Butterfly Hill have a lot of dates in high school? I don't think so, since these pictures show her getting really cozy with Luna--the tree she lived in for two years.
Chalk up another AlGore lie: he claims he helped build the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. "I've been part of the discussion on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve since the days it was first established," said Prince Albert. But the SPR was authorized in 1975--two years before Al arrived in Congress.
"Gore's Reserve Boast Draws Renewed Fire"
Rich Lowry offers GW a great campaign idea: Have the Boy Scouts at every event. 70% of the public supports them, and I would just love to see AlGore try to demagogue that.
"Make Your Own Issues"
9.25.00
Mucho kudos goes out to .Zannah at /usr/bin/girl for listing TAM on her latest project, Blogstart.com. That site is driving much needed traffic and enlarging the glorious TAM family. Feel the love.
According to Mike: "under the National Firearms Act of 1934, individuals are allowed to own nuclear weapons in this country."
Mike, do you want to go in with me on one? I want one of those nifty designs that Clinton let the Chinese have from Los Alamos Laboratory. Or I want that backpack-sized one from The Peacemaker. We could trade it back and forth every three months but allow full visitation rights. Maybe Angus could also chip in after he accepted the fact that even though we may be "raving lunatics," we're pretty nice guys.
Let me answer the question in the headline of Howie Kurtz's latest column: "Are the Media Tilting to Gore?" Yes! They downplay AlGore's dog medicine lie while going crazy over one three-letter portion of a bigger word from a Bush ad. Every slip of GW's tongue is plastered all over the front pages of the newspapers, while AlGore can lie about union lullabies. The media is made up of a group of people who are 80-90% liberal democrats. I wouldn't have a problem with liberal media bias if they admitted to it. I get tons of news from conservative talk radio and other conservative sources. Their information is still useful because they admit they have an opinion and don't hide it under the shroud of "objectivity." I analyze the value of the information by including the bias. I want a return to the old days when papers were strongly partisan operations with real agendas. The writing would be more lively and media bias wouldn't be controversial; it would just be accepted fact.
9.24.00
Pain-in-the-Neck Update: Still a little sore. Went to see the doctor. He pushed on my arms a little bit and said it was just a sprain. I must have slept wrong. The doc gave me a few sample pills that don't seem to work a whole lot, but it is feeling better. No more neck updates. I'm sure you'll all be disappointed in hearing that.
Mike's probably extremely giddy (or really drunk) that one of his old college hang outs, Northwestern defeated my Wisconsin Badgers. The second half was outstanding. The Wildcats fought back from a nine-point deficit to take the game into overtime. Any talk about a Badger national title is moot: the Wildcats found more holes in the vaunted Wisconsin defense than in a giant block of swiss cheese. Sorry, I just had to throw a Wisconsin/cheese metaphor in there.
Even without the victory, Wisconsin had the game's MVP in Michael Bennett. He rushed 48 time for 293 yards. More astounding is the fact that he has had 5 rushes for more than 40 yards this season. Does Wisconsin have another Heisman candidate?
"Northwestern Stuns No. 6 Wisconsin, 47-44"
All those who were giving up on GW should feel a little stupid right now. The goofy Newsweek poll that had AlGore up by 14% now has the race at a dead heat. Consider the source, but don't be discouraged. This race will be neck and neck until the end.
While reading the story, notice the picture of GW on Regis. Is he giving a Texan Longhorn salute or offering a subliminal pro-Satan message? Ask a liberal pro-Gore media-type person whether this question will be on the front page of the NY Times.
"Bush Gains on Gore"
Rupert Murdoch is a great example of why conservatives/libertarians shouldn't rely too heavily on any businessman for political support. It seems Rupert has been hedging his bets on AlGore and the Democrats by donating money. This is the same man who's on the libertarian Cato Institute's board.
"Rupert Murdoch, Gore’s Unlikely Supporter"
I'm just finding plenty of good stuff on the Newsweek website. Today's Quote of the Day goes to Bill Turque who wrote Inventing Al Gore:
I’m often asked what most surprised me as I researched my biography of Gore. The answer is easy: his trouble with the truth.
"Gore’s Truth Troubles"
I guess Angus had enough of the Olympics. While everyone else went to Australia, he headed over to London. I'm not much of an international traveler. I went to Canada this summer, but I don't count that (hasn't the U.S. annexed Canada yet?). My parents will be zooming across the pond at the end of this month to London. Maybe they'll run into Angus. They won't know who he is or even strike up a conversation, but imagine the possibility?
And Angus, I do want my own space ship. Have a half a million dollars to spare? I'm good for it, really.
9.21.00
Aching neck update: It still hurts. I'll have to visit the doctor today.
I agree with Angus on this point on taxes:
Ultimately, I have to accept that taxes are a necessary evil. Let's face it, if the government didn't forcibly take money from it's citizens, we'd never give it to them voluntarily.
There are legitimate roles for government: national defense, police, and the courts to name three. (I'm a constitutional minarchist, so that's probably all I'd support.) The proper role of the U.S. government is spelled out in its constitution. By the way Angus, there is a provision on taxation. The income tax isn't unconstitutional (unless you follow the argument of some anti-tax zealots that the 16th Amendment wasn't really ratified). But much of what the U.S. government spends money on is unconstitutional income redistribution. Social Security is a welfare program for the elderly dressed up as social insurance. Medicare and Medicaid are health care welfare for the elderly and the poor. Then there's the huge amounts of cash handed out as subsidies to farmers and business (corporate welfare). And don't forget the billions wasted by the unconstitutional Department of Education. Those education eggheads have spent all that money and guys like AlGore blab on about schools needing more resources (money). If the U.S. government stayed within its constitutionally defined boundaries, then I might not complain as much about taxes because they'd be so much lower than the present.
I want to see my government limited to those powers specified in the constitution. One way to do this is to limit the amount of money available via taxes. One big problem with the U.S. government running big budget surpluses is that the politicos aren't talking about what programs to kill. Instead, they yap about how they're going to spend the surplus. More money for education, "free" prescription drugs, spending on this, spending on that. That only expands government's role, and it makes it that much harder to shrink government because once a program is started, it's almost impossible to end it.
I'll do my little part in trying to limit government. One way is by pontificating to my small audience on the web. The other way is by voting for GW Bush this November. The guy's far from perfect, but I've realized that if I want to vote for an candidate who agrees with me 100%, I'd have to write in my own name. I don't think I'll be winning any elections soon, so I'll have to find second-best alternatives.
I've finished with my taxation/limited government rant and will offer this blurb from Britannica.com on the U.S. War of Independence:
After the successful conclusion of the French and Indian War in 1763, the British government decided to make its North American colonies pay more of the costs of governing and defending them. Over the next 12 years Britain imposed a series of new taxes and other revenue-raising measures on the colonies that aroused heated opposition. The American colonists resented the trade regulations by which Britain utilized American economic resources to its own advantage, and they likewise resented their lack of representation in the British Parliament. British intransigence to these grievances spurred a growing desire for independence on the Americans' part. Open fighting broke out between the British and Americans in 1775, and the next year the American colonies declared their independence from Britain.
Angus is correct when he said that American colonists were angry about being taxed without representation in the British Parliment. However, many colonists weren't fans of taxation, period, as the Whiskey Rebellion showed.
P.S. Angus, I love this kind of dialogue. It keeps the mind sharp and the arguments honed to a fine sheen.
Great link from Bill on how Ralph Nader is really a friend of Big Business.
"Ralph Nader Is Working for Big Business" [via ETWOF]
Bill Bennett on veep wannabe Joe Lieberman whimping out when it comes to criticizing Hollywood:
He remains my friend, but I cannot defend this. I'm deeply disappointed. He so softly voiced his criticisms in Hollywood that he was barely audible.
"Bennett: Lieberman Soft on Industry"
9.20.00
Paul Johnson of the Rule of Law:
The most important political development of the second millennium was the firm establishment, first in one or two countries, then in many, of the rule of law. Its acceptance and enforcement in any society is far more vital to the happiness of the majority than is even democracy itself. For democracy, without the rule of law to uphold the wishes of the electorate, is worthless, as the history of the past half-century has shown again and again in Africa, Latin America and Asia. The Soviet Union had, in theory, a wonderfully democratic constitution, But it lacked the rule of law entirely, and as a result Stalin was able to murder 30 million of its citizens and die safely in his bed, unarraigned and unpunished.
It's great, intellectually rigorous articles that make the Wall Street Journal editorial page the best on the planet.
"Laying Down the Law"
You may have noticed in the sidebar that Salon.com has been replaced with Tech Central Station. As a blogging source, Salon is worthless to me. They do offer the occasional tech article or book review, but their news coverage is so liberal. Tech Central Station is run by James Glassman and offers a combination of financial news and free market commentary.
Kathleen Hall Jamison on the virtues of "negative" campaigning:
Negative ads are actually among the most important and reliable sources of information in an election. Studies that we've done of ads run by presidential candidates in general elections from 1952-96 show that, far from deceptive, attack ads are more accurate than those touting the virtues and record of a candidate. As well, attack ads were more likely than advocacy ads to focus on proposed or past policies of those running for office. Vigorous attack, in short, is by no means vacuous.
"The Science of Negative Campaigning"
9.19.00
If today's entries are really lame, blame it on the most intense pain I can ever remember having. A pinched nerve in my neck/shoulder prevents me from turning my head and occasionally sends shooting pain through my arm to my elbow.
But I shouldn't complain because my arm wasn't amputated without anesthetic. That's about what I make of Angus' claim that U.S. residents shouldn't complain about high taxes. He was even kind enough to give us a tax table for Australian citizens. A 47% top marginal tax rate--ouch! I shouldn't complain because "Many Europeans pay far higher rates than this." Yet the American Revolution was partially based on unjust taxation of around 2%. The Brits taxed their American colonies 2%, and they went to war. Around 40% of the U.S. economy is sucked up by the government and we just let guys like AlGore seduce us by offering us lots of "free" goodies like prescription drugs.
Angus also wrote, "Your [U.S.] government is massive because your economy is the largest in the history of humanity." No, my government is massive because politicians have ignored the limited powers of the U.S. Constitution and convinced voters that massive income redistritution is a proper function of government.
Kudos to the Boston Globe for holding AlGore accountable with his lie about an arthritis medication for his mother-in-law. And shame on liberal papers like the NY Times, the Washington Post, and my local Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for letting their pro-Gore/Democratic bia get in the way of offering the voting public important facts. Instead, they brood over subliminal messages in political ads that shouldn't be stories in the first place. GW's in a tough bind. He not only has to defeat an incumbent Vice-President during good economic times, but he has to do it while the mainstream press roots for his opponent.
"Gore Misstates Facts in Drug-Cost Pitch" [via Ghost in the Machine]
GW literally kisses up to Oprah.
Oasis' "Wonderwall" is one of those few songs that has already reached classic status. It's only five years old and I can easily see people listening to it 10, 20, 50 years from now. It's just that good.
9.18.00
Forget winning the election to bring honor and decency back to the White House. Forget winning to rebuild an ailing military. Forget winning to lower taxes. Forget winning to inflict family revenge on the Clinton-Gore rascals who trashed your father. GW, you must win to drive Alec Baldwin from the U.S. If that isn't enough incentive to win, I don't know what is.
"Baldwins Will Leave if Bush Wins" [via Drudge]
Two words: Road trip.
Kenneth Smith offers this nugget on Venus Williams recent conversation with Bill Clinton.
The tax penalty Venus Williams now faces is emblematic of the problem facing other high achievers in this country. As such it has a place in the current political campaigns. Vice President Gore has staked out his position on the side of those resisting across-the-board tax cuts, saying they are skewed to favor the "rich." His opponent in the presidential race, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, should give him every opportunity to explain why he favors maintaining the "Venus Williams tax." Voters should be sure to read Mr. Gore's lips as he answers.
"Game, Set, Tax"
9.16.00
Johnathan Weber on this week's FTC report that said Hollywood was marketing violent movies and videos to kids:
By the same token, elected officials – and presidential candidates – are betraying their constituents by grandstanding on a headline-grabbing issue they can't do very much about, rather than focusing on the many ways they can help kids. One key step: Provide adequate funding for the nation's public schools.
This liberal thinks public schools don't have enough money. They have tons, yet they waste it on "educational consultants" who develop dumbed-down teaching methods and bureaucrats who lobby legislators to feather their own nests.
Here's a true story: one of my sister's college friends started teaching this year in New York City. Before school started she was informed that her class would have to sit on the floor because the school couldn't afford chairs. But they have plenty of money for consultants. This is the state of public education.
Oh, and Weber is wrong when he writes, "It's patently obvious that much of the violence in society is rooted in poverty and lack of opportunity." If he was right, then one of the most violent periods of U.S. history would have been the Great Depression. That isn't the case. Poverty doesn't cause violence. Violence is caused when people think that they can get away with using force to satisfy their desires. Moral education is requried along with swift accountability when asocial behavior occurs.
"What the Kids Really Need"
On the stump, GW is saying the right things. On Saturday, Bush went after AlGore. "My opponent's ideas are shaped by a quarter century in Washington -- and they were tired even when his career began." He's trying to pin the big-spending liberal label on Prince Albert. Unfortunately, the message via TV ads is different. The ads distort Al's physical image and do not address the issues. Voters this election just eat up issues. GW must demonstrate where he differs from Gore, and why Gore's ideas are bad for the country. It isn't that hard to do. I think I could put together the basic sketch for a TV ad in 30 minutes. I'm not abandoning GW like Mike is because Bush is offering a good message on the ground. He's just getting killed in the air war.
"Bush Takes Up Gore's Policy Challenge, Fires Back"
9.15.00
Thomas Sowell plays off AlGore's favorite critique of any of GW's ideas:
Private pensions belong to you. Government pensions are controlled by politicians who can change the rules any time they want to. That is what makes Social Security a risky scheme.
"Social Security -- a 'Risky Scheme'"
AlGore was asked to beg--not one--but six lawyers for campaign cash just before Bill Clinton vetoed a tort reform bill.
"Gore Told to Solicit from 6 Lawyers"
More proof of U.S. military inadequacy: A naval report said that units missed valuable training because plane parts were canibalized for missions such as Kosovo and Iraq; pilots can't train with targeting systems so they are forced to learn during actual combat; Israel kicked U.S. ass in a mock combat operation, notching kill ratios of 6-to-1; and moral is low. Imagine the state of Naval air crews if AlGore is allowed to run them into the ground for 4 years?
"Naval Air is Called Degraded in Report"
Stephen Ambrose's Noting Like It in the World is reviewed in this Sunday's NY Times. If this book is anything like his Citizen Soldiers, it is a solid history book that lets you see through the eyes of the average Joe who built the transcontinential railroad. Note this one for the history buff on your Christmas list.
"Working on the Railroad"
9.14.00
From USA Today:
HHS should be applauded for its dramatic turnaround, said OMB executive associate director and controller Josh Gotbaum. He said the agency initiated the changes on its own.
Why should the Department of Health and Human Services be applauded you ask? Well, they only lost $12.6 billion in Medicare payments to fraud and abuse in 1998. In 1997, they lost $20.3 billion. Yeah!!! Three cheers for Donna Shalala and the whole HHS gang. Too bad they still lost more money from Medicare in 1998, than the entire country of Paupa New Guinea made in 1996. But at least they tried; for liberals that's all that matters.
"Government Wasted Billions of Dollars" [via WOITF]
Thanks, Billy. I like that there's more Smashing Pumpkins music out there, but to get it I have to spend hours downloading 25 files using Napster. Then if I want to get them on some CDs so I can listen to them away from my computer, I'll have to move all the songs over to my mother's computer so I can burn them onto disks. I'll be stuck doing this because the band said, "There will not be a CD pressing." Nice idea, lousy execution.
"Pumpkins Seed Internet With Free Songs"
9.13.00
Bill Gates gets today's Quote of the Day:
Fundamentally with world trade, if you block it, the big losers are the poor people of the world, and I'm not sure that gets articulated as clearly as it should be.
"Gates: Globalization Is Good"
AlGore's latest incarnation is as Hollywood-basher. But Michael Kelly knows who the real AlGore is when it comes to the entertainment industry:
Out in 90210, they know their Al. The man who dragged his wife to bow and scrape before them is not going to sock them with anything that really hurts. This is just for the benefit of the moms, and it is just for this silly season. And then it's for the hole.
"Al Gore's Memory Hole" [via Drudge]
Angus is covering the "Melee in Melbourne" at a meeting of the World Economic Forum. The violent, anti-trade, socialist radicals that attacked local and world leaders are direct descendents from the socialist peace and love hippies of the 1960s. Voluntary trade and commerce are an anathema to these people.
"Bracks Blames Extremists for Forum Violence"
According to David Horowitz, GW's campaign has expected Gore's eventual lead for a while. Karl Rove and the gang have been very prescient
As a member of the Bush Finance Committee, and as someone working with Tom DeLay and Roy Blunt to re-elect the House Republican majority, I was present at two separate meetings where chief Bush strategist Karl Rove walked us through the electoral map and laid out his vision of the months to come. At the time, Bush was leading in the polls by around 9 percent, and Rove predicted that he would leave Philadelphia with somewhere between 9 and 16 percent, which he did.
The Bush "bump" would be modest, Rove explained, because conventions historically consolidate the party base. But Bush already had his base (the polls showed him with 92 percent of the Republican vote). Rove said that Gore, on the other hand, would get a large bump, and would come out of the Los Angeles convention up 6 percent or even more. The reason was that the pre-convention polls showed Gore with only 77 percent of registered Democrats in tow. Rove concluded by saying that the race, Rove said, would start in earnest after Labor Day when he expected that it would be a "dead heat." And then it would go down to the wire.
So there is one certain thing, at least, in a contest where nothing else can be taken for granted. The Bush team was planning two months ago for the race we actually have now.
While GOP big-wigs started worring about the sky falling, the campaign keeps on trucking.
"Stop Being So Paranoid, GOP" [via latte]
GW needs to get U.S. Open champ Venus Williams on board supporting his tax cut plan. She asked Bill Clinton, "Can you lower my taxes, please?", but he mumbled some wierd thing about giving athletes some special exemption (a targeted tax cut?). Later, she said she asked the question "to help all Americans." Thank you Venus.
Cyberalert: 9.12.00"
John Taylor Gatto's latest book is on my reading list. Also, get well soon, Bill.
"Scrap Public Education Altogether" [via ETWOF]
9.11.00
Quote of the Day goes to Robert George:
And Kid Rock? He was better when he was David Lee Roth in Van Halen. Oh, wait, he's not David Lee Roth? Wow, could have fooled me.
"MTValues"
Rebecca Blood offers a thoughtful (short) history of the beloved weblog.
Weblogs: A History and Perspective [via genehack]
Why is the class "How to Be Gay: Male Homosexuality and Initiation" listed as an English class at the University of Michigan? How does this class help an English major better analyze the great works of literature or write better? It looks more like a liberal indoctrination class. But it's a losing issue for Michigan Republicans.
"GOP Takes Aim at Gay Life Course at U. Michigan" [via B&L&F&R]
Maybe I can get as many hits as /usr/bin/girl/ if I give away trinkets like she does. How about one of my old dirty socks or an empty Mountain Dew can, or how about an old Dole for President sign I still have tucked away in my closet?
My stomach turned when I opened the Sunday edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to find a picture of Fidel Castro hugging a boy during a visit to a Harlem church. He looked kind and grandfatherly embracing the child. From looking at that picture, you would never know the brutal, thuggish man Fidel Castro really is and how he keeps an island of millions from exercising their God-given liberties. In the accompaying story, Castro held audience to "more than 2,000" useful idiots who chanted "Fidel! Fidel! Fidel!" No mention was made that the people in attendence were Communist sympathizers. The closest mention was that the event was "organized by Cuban solidarity groups."
"Castro Pleased by Handshake"
James Q. Wilson on cutting marginal tax rates like GW want to:
Almost any cut in marginal rates is going to benefit upper-income workers more than others because they pay most of the taxes. If you oppose helping more affluent workers, then it becomes virtually impossible to cut marginal rates, ever. And that would be a mistake, because lower marginal rates encourage entrepreneurship, supply more investment capital, and create opportunities for financing both children (with intergenerational transfers) and philanthropy (with gifts to charity).
Wilson goes on to find the major fault in AlGore's social engineering tax cut plan:
Gore's plan is based on the assumption that he knows better than citizens how their money should be spent. If they spend it in the right way, they get a tax cut. If they spend it the wrong way, they don't. And if they work hard and manage to make $100,000 a year or more, they become "wealthy" and hence ineligible for any tax cuts.
"Why Not Cut Taxes?"
The Packers should listen to Michael Bauman and "Just Throw the Ball To Freeman." The Pack has a better chance of winning and Free can help my fantasy football team.
9.10.00
When most people want to play Doom, they want the biggest monitor they can find so they can see all the gory detail. These guys would much rather play on a 2" by 2" screen of a digital camera.
MAMED! [via Pigs & Fishes]
Robot Wisdom found this great article on Moby. His album Play became the first record in history to have all its tracks licensed. Moby used the commercialization of his music as a way to get around the barriers of strictly-formated radio.
To be honest with you, when the record first came out, having the music used in TV shows, movies and advertisements was the only way we had of exposing it to people. Radio wasn't playing the music. MTV and MuchMusic, they weren't really getting behind it. So we had no way of reaching people except through advertisements and films.
Instead of whining about the current state of U.S. radio, Moby found an inventive way of getting his music out there. Now it's paying off dividends. I plan on seeing Moby live 10.8.
"Moby -- the Birth of a Salesman"
Rick at Upstairs at Dry Creek is having a blast with David Brooks' Bobos in Paradise. It's on my lengthy reading list, but I'm going to first scare myself by reading AlGore's Earth in the Balance. This is after I've just finished Anderson's and Leal's Free Market Environmentalism. (The authors both work at the Political Economy Research Center, which is at the heart of the free market environmentalist movement.) A little compare and contrast will be in order after I finish with Prince Albert's tome.
Quote of the Day goes to the stupid comment by Josh, one of the boring people on the lame show Big Brother:
It would be the greatest statement a group of humans could ever make.
The "greatest" statement would be for all six of the remaining dorks to walk off the show together next Wednesday. Josh's statement seeths with hyperbole and arrogance. Walking off a lame television show united would not even cause a false echo on history's radar screen. Although open rebellion live and in stereo does sound appealing.
"I Am Spartacus" [via Metafilter]
9.09.00
Quote of the Day goes to Paul Gigot. In comparing GW's campaign with a campaign of another big state governor with a big summer lead, Gigot wrote:
This is all Tom Dewey with a drawl.
However, Gigot isn't glum. He wrote that GW has "more policy reforms than any GOP presidential nominee since the Gipper." Bush just needs to sell them to the American people and attack AlGore for being a big-spending liberal.
"Now Bush Has to Win on the Issues"
Marquette coaching legend Al McGuire is in a "hospice-like facility" in Milwaukee. Little is known about his illness except it involves anemia. The guy is beloved by Wisconsin sports fans for his coaching results (he led Marquette to a national title in 1977) and for his love of basketball. I'm sorry to say, but it looks like the McGuire death watch has begun.
"McGuire's Health Failing" [via Obscure Store]
Britannica.com has a winner. Each week, they will be explaining Dennis Miller's esoteric references from Monday Night Football.
Why has Miller never been on Celebrity Jeopardy? He may be the world's largest supply of useless information (and I thought I had that title). During last Monday's game, he referred to John Carlos and Tommie Smith from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, the goofy bridge wrapping artist Christo, and Joe Hardy from the musical Damn Yankees. When I get a chance to watch MNF, I just might have to visit Britannica.com during the game just to figure out Miller's jokes.
The Annotated Dennis Miller[via Fresh Hell]
Runner-up for Quote of the Day goes to Neoflux on Robert Altman's threat to move to France if GW is elected:
In fact, take all your leftist Hollywood buddies with you. Go hang out with Roman Polanski and have sex with little girls all day - because apparently, the Euro's don't have a problem w/ that type of thing.
Here's some advice to GW: Take the Smackdown Challenge. Five uninterrupted minutes to lay out your reasons to be the next President is political gold. And the fact that it would be targeted to the historically low-turnout young person vote would show GW cares about the future workers and leaders of the country. It would help Bush get back some credibility he lost over the debate debate.
"Gov. Jesse Ventura to Participate in Smackdown Challenge"
Solid advice for GW from Joel Rosenberg:
So how can Bush, Inc., recapture its position as market leader? By waking up every morning and answering the question that's on the minds of swing voters: "How would my life in some small, but tangible and meaningful way, be better if George W. Bush were the next president?"
"What Bush Must Do Now"
9.08.00
Here's my little part to help GW's campaign combat AlGore's socialized drug prescription solution. It comes from economist John Lott, Jr.:
Look at pharmaceuticals--a big issue in this election. There's still this notion of centralized control. And if you put price controls on, it's going to be incredibly hard to get rid of them. It will be four or five years before we stop seeing new drugs coming into the market. Ten years from now are we going to say, we haven't had new drugs coming on, we should get rid of price controls--because in another ten years we'll start seeing new drugs? The call then will be for more government involvement in research, subsidies, what have you.
GW should say that verbatem the next time AlGore opens his trap about how his drug plan is sooo good for Americans.
"Guns, Drugs And Insider Trading"
The Right (broadly defined) needs to continue its educational project on school vouchers. In a Zogby poll released today, almost 60% of respondents want increased money to fix public schools instead of vouchers. 34% support vouchers. Ideally, I want to see the separation of school and state, but first the public must be convinced that throwing more money at failing, unaccountable public school bureaucracies is not the answer to improving education. As baby-steps toward school privatization vouchers for poor children should be advocated, while charter schools should be created and promoted.
The anti-voucher sentiment is displayed by the up hill battles of school voucher initiatives in Michigan and California. Both initiatives will probably fail with the liberal media proudly clucking that the school choice movement is dead.
"Voters Support Public Schools, Not Private School Vouchers"
Correction from yesterday: Scott Sheldon became only the third (not second) player to play all nine positions in a major league game.
9.07.00
Last night Scott Sheldon became only the second player to play all nine positions in a major league baseball game. He did it in only five innings and even struck out one batter.
The RNC has documented some of AlGore's lies. Included are the ones about the Buddhist temple fundraiser, his supposed "creation" of the Internet, and his inspriation as a character in Love Story.
God, I love propaganda fully documented.
GORE-ITIS: The Best of Al Gore’s Lies and Exaggerations
9.06.00
Quote of the Day goes to GW:
Vice President Gore talks about 'the people versus the powerful.' For eight years he has been the powerful, and, on health care, has little to show for it.
While unleashing that salvo, GW unveiled his prescription drug plan. His plan would send $48 billion to the states to help cover seniors' drug expenses while he wants long-term reform of the Medicare system based on the bipartisan bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana and Republican Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee. Gore's plan is more centralized around a one-size-fits-all big government plan that will probably balloon in cost (as would Bush's plan).
Since we're stuck with Medicare--even though its unconstitutional--and with the possible cost savings from substituting hospital stays with drugs, Bush had to come out with a prescription drug plan. On the bright side, Bush's plan appears to give states flexibility and offer more options to seniors than AlGore's centralized scheme.
But what I think was even more important than showing off the mind-numbing details was that Bush finally struck back at Albert. Al had eight years to find a solution to increased drug costs. No mention was made about the issue until Al started running for President. Either Al didn't really care about the issue until it was politically helpful, or he squandered the prosperity of the past eight years.
"Bush Proposes Near $200 Billion Medicare Overhaul"
Hold the presses!! Anarchy Lew wrote an article about GW that didn't bash him for not being ideologically pure. A.L. (not to be confused with AlGore) didn't mind Bush calling Adam Clymer, reporter for the NY Times, an "asshole." He thought the name fit and that saying it might be "good for his poll ratings."
Separated at birth: Martha Stewart and Siouxsie Sioux.
The links are totally ripped off from memepool, but I came to the exact same conclusion at work at the bookstore tonight.
AlGore dises wheelchaired reporter.
But I'm more inclined to think that a candidate who doesn't have enough foresight or flexibility to let an extra car into the motor pool or make sure a campaign stop has a wheelchair ramp isn't the candidate I'd be inclined to vote for come November.
Little will be made of this incident, but imagine the flack if it would have been GW's campaign.
"Gore Folks Push Reporter's Wheelchair out of Race for Story" [via Drudge]
Today's WSJ editorial is a great reason why I love OpinionJournal:
As Democrat-turned-journalist Michael Barone has observed, the mainstream media aren't pro-Democratic. They will sometimes take a Democrat to task, especially if he violates a media shibboleth such as "campaign-finance reform." But they are reliably anti-Republican. That is, in newsrooms across the land there is noticeably greater skepticism, and often animosity, toward politicians who are cultural conservatives or who want to restrict the scope of federal power.
"Bush vs. the Press"
More evidence of lack of military readiness under Clinton/Gore. Training planes are grounded due to lack of parts; laser-guided bombs aren't available for training; and the average age of military aircraft will greatly increase over the next few years due to lack of replacements.
"Navy Pilots Miss The Mark" [via Drudge]
Jeff Jacoby honors his father with this fine article.
"My Hero, My Father"
9.04.00
AlGore can't have it both ways. He has said he'll debate GW "anytime, anyplace," but when Bush agrees to a set of debates, Al gripes. The excuse is that GW's choices of "Larry King Live" and "Meet the Press" won't be broadcast on all the networks (his third choice one sponsored by the Debate Commission). It's a lame excuse because any debate will be extensively covered through all the media regardless of what network broadcasts it. AlGore's just trying to make GW look like a debate wimp and is hoping for a Bush gaffe. GW should stay firm; Al will eventually agree.
"Bush Declares Debate Plans"
Bill comments on James Q. Wilson's drug legalization article:
He [Wilson] believes this will cause abuse to skyrocket. I disagree. People will initially use more of these poisons until they notice their friends dying, then it will go back to about what it is now.
Wilson's point is that some of the new addicts who devour the low-cost drugs will be so addicted that they will be "useless for any activity, including holding a job." He isn't talking about those who try coke for a cheap thrill. He's talking about the percentage that would be incapable of doing anything except satisfying their drug habit. Crime would go up if those problem addicts caused a crime increase that was greater than the decrease in crime due to legalization.
A downside to drug legalization is the fact that more people would try "these poisons" like cocaine and heroin. Some would become terribly addicted and have their lives destroyed. But currently society deals with many people strongly addicted to chemicals--they're called alcoholics. More people are hooked on booze than cocaine or heroin, yet no one's calling for the return to prohibition. I continue to struggle with this issue.
If you're a frequent visitor, you have noticed the GW banner at the top of the page and the online/offline button along the left side. By now it's pretty obvious that I'm a GW supporter and will do my little part to help him get elected. As for the button, that will let you know when I'm online surfing or blogging. I use Yahoo Messenger because it gives me quick access to lots of the other features I use over there. I have nothing against ICQ. I just don't want two instant messenger programs open at once, and so I chose Yahoo. If I'm online, you can send me a message just by clicking on the button.
By the look in Mr. Tito's eyes, I think he thinks he's already in space.
"Space Tourist To Prepare For Mir Flight" [via Latte]
9.01.00
AlGore, the uber debater, is running away from GW's offer to meet on "Larry King Live." The Gore campaign won't go along with any other debates until GW agrees to the debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
"Bush Touts School Visit as a Milestone"
Help GAC (pronounced "Jack") think more like a human by feeding him mindpixels.
It's an argument like Wilson's that prevents me from joining the drug legalization bandwagon. After the unjust death of Peter McWilliams in June, I'm very sympathetic towards marijuana legalization, but the idea of crazed coke heads and heroin freaks scares me.
"Legalizing Drugs Makes Matters Worse"
Today, Elian Gonzalez will start his first day of school for the year. A friend e-mailed me this message, it fits what I'm feeling:
September 1 is a sad marker in that it is the day Elian Gonzalez begins second grade in Cuba.
Sure, he'll learn to read and write, but he'll have amoral Marxist doctrine poured into his precious mind. I'll be dreading the day when all the indoctrination takes full effect and Elian denounces his Miami relatives who sacrificed their home and privacy; risked physical and emotional harm; and suffered brutal abuse from the left-leaning media and an unsympathetic public. If and when Elian does this, I won't blame him. I'll put the blame squarely where it belongs: on the evil Fidel Castro, the heartless Janet Reno, and the coniving Bill Clinton.
"Elian To Start 2nd Grade in Cuba"
Bill Clinton vetoed the death tax cut saying it would benefit the rich and was irresponsible. GW's campaign tied AlGore to the veto and said," Al Gore says he wants to give selected tax cuts to the right people, but I guess farm families and small business owners just aren't the right people for him." Unfortunately, GW didn't say it himself for the world to hear. Instead his press secretary offered the campaigns response. GW needs to make some noise and get noticed by hammering away at Gore's social engineering tax cuts that don't exist if you don't have kids or make over $70,000. GW has to emphasise that the budget surplus isn't Washington's money, it's the people's money--and we want it back!
"Clinton Vetoes Estate Tax Repeal; GOP Sets Override Vote"
Frank Pellegrini says Dick Cheney is much more comfortable talking about military readiness than education. No duh! He was Defense Secretary during Desert Storm. What really got me in this story was Cheney quoting Joe Lieberman about military readiness:
One observer of the military had this to say last year: 'Our military faces readiness problems including falling recruitment, and retention in critical skill areas; aging equipment that costs more to keep operating at acceptable levels of reliability; a need for more support services for a force with a high percentage of married personnel; and frequent deployments.'
That is a fair summary of the problem, and it came from Senator Joseph Lieberman."
Gotcha!!
"Cheney Finds His Own 'Message': the Military"
In an old article from The Freeman, David Kelley skewers the anarchist position:
Thus anarchism is hardly even a political philosophy. It is, much rather, an attempt to escape the responsibility of providing one. It would, as its critics contend, be a disaster in practice; but that is because it is fantastic and incoherent in theory.
Kelley builds his argument on the notion that coercion cannot be employed in a free market because a free market exists only where there is an abscence of coercion. This may upset many libertarians, but there is a role for government: it is to minimize coercion. That means our present government must forget about the social engineering, income redistributing, vote buying programs it has been running for years. A literal interpretation of the Constitution is required.
"The Necessity of Government"
I must introduce you all to my friend Eric who is an editor for the Winona Post. I've known him since we ran against each other for freshmen class president at UMD (he won). Eric is a well traveled, inquisitive, common sense man of the people who's knowledge and opinion I take seriously.
His latest column deals with the new fad of organic food.
This is an interesting concept to me because organic food is a potato. A tomato. An apple. If whoever grows your potato doesn't use pesticides or alter it too radically before you eat it, then that's organic. What does Nestle have to do with that? They're from Switzerland for goodness' sakes. The farmer's market is right down the street from me. I don't need Nestle to get me an apple. What I need from Nestle is more chocolate. They're very good at that. You Swiss should stick with watches and chocolate and cheese...and those knives from your army that will never fight.
"Finding Food"
Sean Hackbarth
Writer/Bookseller
Allenton, WI
https://www.angelfire.com/wi/shackbar
shackbar@free-market.net
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