Maggie's Farm

Inflationary warning above from People's Cube via Moonbattery

The WaPo is in love with Obama. But is it love or lust? 

Rick Moran isn't:

I hate to say it but we have got to find a way to right the ship at the White House. History has reached out and tapped this novice on the shoulder at a time when there is real danger his bungling will result in a catastrophic economic collapse as bad as the worst in our history.

Mark Steyn not in love with O either: So far, it's been Obomateur Hour. (h/t, Jules)

Stimulus: 1.6 billion for "science."  Yes, just "science."

We are not great fans of Geert Wilders, but we are fans of free speech. Atlas has posted his 15 minute film Fitna here.

A rising voice: Rep. Cantor of VA

Ledeen: We are all Fascists now. One quote:

...not one person in a thousand knows what fascist political economy was. Yet during the great economic crisis of the 1930s, fascism was widely regarded as a possible solution, indeed as the only acceptable solution to a spasm that had shaken the entire First World, and beyond. It was hailed as a "third way" between two failed systems (communism and capitalism), retaining the best of each. Private property was preserved, as the role of the state was expanded. This was necessary because the Great Depression was defined as a crisis "of the system," not just a glitch "in the system." And so Mussolini created the "Corporate State," in which, in theory at least, the big national enterprises were entrusted to state ownership (or substantial state ownership) and of course state management. Some of the big "Corporations" lasted a very long time; indeed some have only very recently been privatized, and the state still holds important chunks-so-called "golden shares"-in some of them.

Back in the early thirties, before "fascism" became a pure epithet, leading politicians and economists recognized that it might work, and many believed it was urgently required. When Roosevelt was elected in 1932, in fact, Mussolini personally reviewed his book, Looking Forward, and the Duce's bottom line was, "this guy is one of us."

Fascism, like Socialism and Communism, assumes that politicians are wiser, more far-seeing, and have more integrity and less self-interest than the average person. Also, that the regular person is a feckless dope. Little evidence for that, on average, thus far in history. Politics is just "Hollywood for ugly people," as they say - but also for many who cannot make it in the real world.

Speaking of Fascism, Jerry Brown:

 “a little state control (of radio) wouldn’t hurt anybody”

Democracy at work, at Ace:

"We are obviously very pleased with the court's decision ... there's a large chunk of ballots that have now been taken out of play," said Franken lawyer Marc Elias.

The unintended consequences of the executive pay cap. NYT

Sen. Burris: "I forgot." (He's a lawyer, mind you.) But here's the most revolting Dem corruption story of the month.

Sisu on timeless wisdom and hopey-changey socialism. She reminded us of our 2006 post The paradox of conservatism: Seeking power to extend freedom.