Monday, November 3. 2008
 I very much enjoyed Sarah's speech in Nevada which we posted yesterday.
Two things stood out for me: First, that women create as many businesses in America as men. I didn't know that. Bravo! Second, her using the term "fines" for taxes on business success. That is wonderfully Reaganesque.
I will be voting early tomorrow morning, before work. I will be voting for some semi-good Dems and for some semi-good Repubs up and down the ticket. I never expect perfection, ie somebody who entirely agrees with me on everything. Generally speaking, I hold a low view of professional politicians and a far higher view of people who create businesses, create wealth, employ people, and build America. I will be voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin, and I still cannot imagine America electing a Left-winger with radical and anti-American roots as the rest of the world turns more Conservative, but it sure looks like it will happen. Weird, but it's hope that causes people to invest, to gamble, and to buy Orexis. "Hope" is for children. Well, I am known to play a little poker, but I will not gamble with my country. So my own little Presidential vote tomorrow will be a big, hearty, and well-informed 
The banking crisis of 1836. Yes, government policies caused that one too. McCain was funny with Tina Fey on SNL. Looks like he's having fun. The Top Ten Positive Effects of an Obama Victory A super-quick summary of this endless election. We make such a big deal about it, you'd almost think we were electing a King for Life instead of hiring an employee. Obama supporter thinks Joe the Plumber should be killed. Very tolerant. Coal workers and the coal biz are not too thrilled with Obama's energy plans. But as somebody said, I guess we can import it from China instead... I can hear David Axelrod right now: "Why did you have to say that shit, Barry?" Punishing the rich? Powerline has "Obama's vote to raise taxes on income-earners down to $42,000." But of course: it's called "equality" and "fairness," because if you took risks and worked your butt off to construct a life for yourself and your family, it's really just luck. I am neither rich nor particularly lucky, but I am a cheerful fellow, relatively speaking, and I am more than happy to take responsibility for my path in life. If Obama wins the election, most people doubt there will be any spare money for grand new programs like socialized medicine. But when has lack of money ever stopped a politician? They trust that you will continue to earn it for them. Sowell: Obama is Ego and Mouth. Indeed, at the very least. What is his political character? More on how the hedge funds always support Dems, 2:1. The very rich strongly tend to be Dems in America. I guess you could call them a category of "values voters donors." Drudge Report beats the New York Times. Drudge is necessary for lurid headlines, but it's not anywhere near as interesting as Maggie's Farm. Bush's bad rap. I still like and respect the fellow enormously, but unfortunately communicating to the public, and selling soap and hope, has never been his strength. Haha. Jerry Nadler isn't helping his guy. The Boston Herald gives you more questions for the money. The greedy, stingy Boston Globe won't give us enough. Mankiw: Obama leads in 18 out of the 19 states with the largest recent declines in home prices, whereas McCain leads in 13 out of the 14 states with the largest recent increases in home prices.
I guess they are pissed that politicians cannot guarantee markets. Perhaps people do not understand free markets.
"When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
. Benjamin Franklin (paraphrasing Aristotle) from Tell Them They Can, at Wiz. The Founders feared the tyranny of democracy almost as much as they feared the tyranny of leaders, which is why they created a Republic instead of an Athenian democracy. But you already knew that.
What a great country! 
Sunday, November 2. 2008
Steyn says:When first I heard about the Undocumented Auntie, I thought I'd finally figured out how this spread-the-wealth thing works: The government taxes Joe the Plumber to fund public housing agencies that illegally provide welfare and accommodation to illegal immigrants thereby freeing up their cash flow to enable them to make illegal campaign contributions to any nephew who might chance to be running for president and get him elected so he can tax Joe the Plumber even more to fund even more public housing for even more illegal immigrants to make even more illegal campaign contributions... Etc.
Life, indeed, has a sense of irony.
What happens in Vegas, well, sometimes doesn't stay in Vegas. This is a genuine photo of an Obama campaign office in Las Vegas. I couldn't have planned this shot better myself, and I'm a guy who knows his way around photoshopping for fun and vengeance.
Hat tip: RedState
Send this speech around. I cannot imagine women not wanting to vote for her after listening to this, unless they are the hopelessly "gimme" sorts:
 I had a quite enjoyable hunt yesterday. Bagged two Woodcock and missed one grouse in 6 hours of banging through the woods and bogs of upstate NY. Would have been pleased to have put up more grouse, though. This kind of hunting is better termed "off-trail brush-busting with dogs, while burdened with an annoying, increasingly-heavy, and generally-useless piece of pipe which keeps catching on branches while raspberry brambles cut you to bits and alder branches keep knocking your hat off." The piece of pipe I carried was my pretty Abercrombie and Fitch (Rizzini) 20 ga s/s.
Powerline: Fools and their money Obama calls the plumber Obama vows to bankrupt coal industry. What? Then what will Santa put in our kids' Christmas stockings? Who is this guy? Coal powers my darn internet electricity. More on how selfish you terrible Americans are, via Sister Toldjah: Aside from insulting voters who think it isn’t selfish to use their own money to build businesses, raise children, and give to charity (ask Joe Biden about that!), his formulation shows an appalling lack of understanding about how people get rich. The government is going to give people goodies and then they’ll have more money to spend? Wow. Who knew it could be so easy? No working, earning, saving, building businesses, hiring more people, investing and the like. Money just comes from thin air, from the government.
 Gen. Petraeus takes on his new job. Yes We Can, General P.
More on Obama's Aunt Zeituni. You can readily see, Bruce Kesler, that Lefties do not believe in charity - even to their own families. LaShawn: I am not African-American. What the heck is this all about? I never have heard about this sort of thing being on the Lib agenda. Sounds like the STASI. Studying ugly. It's an ugly business trying to get tenure nowadays. Gotta admit, though, ugly can be interesting. Waiting for your Obama goodie-bag? Me want free beer. He never complained once. Rev. Wright and Obama When chosing a candidate means losing a friend. Disincentivization in Japan. Who wants stress without rewards? How the Dems can bring the GOP back into power in two easy steps. Upper photo: Me in the woods. The Setter "Punch" (after the cigar brand) belongs to a friend.
Lower photo: An Obama supporter experiencing rapture, via Tim Blair. I like her face. She'll be a Conservative in ten years, once she learns more about life.
Just 9 words from Mrs. Obama: That is via Wizbang, who quotes VDH: I don't think in my lifetime I have ever witnessed quite a campaign in which the wife of the Presidential candidate has been sequestered lest she voice yet another sweeping generalization that can be rightfully interpreted as denigrating both the American system at large or the values of other Americans; or in which the Vice Presidential candidate has been sequestered from press questioning lest he once again in an interview or an impromptu says something that either is so bizarre that it makes no sense at all or serves as a good argument not to vote for his running mate; or in which the Presidential nominee himself knows that if he stays on the teleprompter he has a good chance of winning, but if he wades in to banter with the crowd there is equally a good chance that he may say something so disturbing that the entire facade that he has so carefully constructed simply collapses.
 Matthew 23: 1-12
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Image: Fra Angelico's fresco Sermon on the Mount, Florence, approx 1440.
Eternal Father, the hymn associated with both the Royal Navy and the US Navy, and sailors and boatmen everywhere. The Brits might not be believers anymore, but they sure know how to do choirs. Words here. (Thanks, Theo):
Saturday, November 1. 2008
Our Californian guest poster Bruce Kesler sends us the following, in response to our post on How Redistributionist is America?  Barack Obama’s bluntly answered Joe the Plumber that we should have more redistribution from the well-off to “spread the wealth around.”
Yet, according to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States has the most progressive income tax and employee Social Security taxes in the developed world. Progressive means that the top 10% give more. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) figures show that the top 10% of adjusted gross income tax filers pay over 70% of income taxes. That’s after allowable deductions, which supposedly favor the better-off. The top 50% pays over 97% of income taxes. Over 30% of tax-filers pay no income tax, a percentage nearing 50% of those potentially subject to income tax if non-filers are included. Top-earners receive less than 2% return, and many a negative return, on their Social Security tax while low earners receive over 8%, and the lowest almost an infinite return for having paid very little or no Social Security tax. Retirees with earnings from savings, or pensions, can be charged double for participation in Medicare hospital and Rx coverage. We’re approaching each Social Security recipient being supported by only 2 or 3 workers, a major wealth transfer from the younger to the older and the well-to-do to the less fortunate or careful in gaining education, working hard or saving. Most current workers eligible for defined benefit pensions, guaranteed payouts, are employed by governments. Regardless of economic conditions, the stock market, or other expenses, these payouts are locked-in. The audited deficit in ability to meet these payouts are several trillion dollars. Essential public services to Americans are being cut by state and local governments, and public colleges are raising tuition, while increasing portions of public budgets are funneled into government-worker pensions. The Bible enjoins us to contribute at least 10% of our earnings to the poor, but scriptural commentary says we should be careful of going past 20% as we must not sacrifice our family’s needs. The best charity is that which provides skills to earn for oneself.
John McCain’s tax returns show him consistently donating over 20% to charity. Barack Obama’s shows him giving about 2%. McCain’s wealthy wife pays for a La Jolla condo for her aunt, contributes heavily to poor children around the world, and they’ve adopted one. Obama’s aunt in Chicago collects welfare and lives in public housing, though here illegally, and his brother in Kenya lives in a tiny shack.
Imagine if all these redistributions, “spreading the wealth around”, didn’t occur. How much more would you have? How much are you and your family now being denied or sacrificing for? How many more jobs would be created if business and entrepreneurs were taxed less? One might raise one’s finger and tell Obama to “Redistribute this!”
 This is not a hate crime.
Illegal immigration is off the radar. Except for Obama's illegal Auntie. The candidates and their pets. Are Americans too puritanical about drinking and shooting? Barclay's Bank wants no help from the government. We found some small businesses that are pro-Obama. Pimps and hos. (h/t, Right Wing Prof) The $700,000 bill for Obama's Berlin extravaganza. Why not give his $600,000,000 to the poor? Governator implies that Obama is a girlie man. I am no Arnold, but I think Obama is a twit. More on the Joe the Plumber hatchet job. The Obama campaign is pretty good at hatchet jobs. Why is Iraq not part of the Pres campaign? Because McCain was spectacularly right. And you can't have that. The unintended consequences of climate change solutions. NYT The assault against the "investor class": Betsy and Driscoll. Is that smart, since 2/3 of Americans have investments in some form? That's one of the miracles of American Capitalism. The care and feeding of entrepreneurialism. Steyn: Obama is good as a symbol. Hope - but a slim hope, in my opinion. Obama has already chosen his Chief of Staff: Rahm Emmanuel.
There is another Maggie's Farm site. This other Maggie farms in central New York State and she has a fine, personal blog about her farming, her teaching, and wool. Love those barns. They had snow this week, which is further proof of the crisis of global cooling and the urgent need for woolens: 
There are so many fine, energetic Americans who do not spend their time figuring out how to get free stuff: they spend their time figuring out how to do stuff. No self-respecting person really wants to be a parasite, although the socialist mind-set tries to persuade us that we're entitled and should not be ashamed of being greedy takers. Well, we had Joe the Plumber, Cory Miller the Well-Driller, and now we have Tito the Builder (I lost the link to that hairdresser gal in Ohio with a similar view):
 How does Ben Smith do it all?
Ski on your favorite sin. I can't decide between Lust and Sloth. Will you steal your kids' Halloween candy? Sipp on Halloween Explained Anchoress introduces readers to one of the best movies ever made It's not just for Liberals: Social signaling and speaking in code Your personal blimp. h/t Thompson Spreading the wealth and killing the goose Election Derangement Syndrome. Sheesh. I think I understand Obama's popularity as a celebrity/icon, but I still find it hard to believe that he is electable. Like, I mean, like you know, this isn't American Idol...or is it? In Auster's words, The man is a walking cornucopia of the marginal, the communist, the alien, the inappropriate, and the anti-American. And we're about to elect him president of the United States.
Or as Theo crudely puts it... Franklin Delano Bush. Boudreaux War goes on across Paki border Our post yesterday, How Redistributionist is America?, is worth reading if you missed it. The US is high on the list. Controlling the Internet in Australia. Are they nuts? As soon as people make something good, the gummint wants to intrude. In Reagan's famous words: Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
McCain has been an excellent candidate. Surber
Look who came by last night, trick-or-treating. Whatever you give them, you know they're going to trick you anyway: 
Love and Sleep Lying asleep between the strokes of night
I saw my love lean over my sad bed,
Pale as the duskiest lily's leaf or head,
Smooth-skinned and dark, with bare throat made to bite,
Too wan for blushing and too warm for white,
But perfect-coloured without white or red.
And her lips opened amorously, and said-
I wist not what, saving one word - Delight.
And all her face was honey to my mouth,
And all her body pasture to mine eyes;
The long lithe arms and hotter hands than fire,
The quivering flanks, hair smelling of the south,
The bright light feet, the splendid supple thighs
And glittering eyelids of my soul's desire. Algernon Charles Swinburne, the son of an admiral, is considered a decadent Victorian poet and probably not one of the greats. But lots of interesting stuff isn't "great." (Illo by Theo.)
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