Maggie's FarmWe are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for. |
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Wednesday, September 16. 2009Weds. morning linksThe Mayflower and the Speedwell left Holland on Sept 6th, 1620, and left England on Sept. 16th. They were headed for New York Harbor where the Dutch already had a flourishing small trading colony (and Boston already had some rowdy, all-male Brit settlers with no evident religious inclinations and with a taste for rum and violence), but those Pilgrims never made it to New York because of bad autumn weather. How would American history be different had they made it to NYC? Our post on the story. Health care reform and the unions. It's a boondoggle. George Will: Why nobody believes Obama NPR jumps to defend ACORN, with a condescending and insane theory like "You can't expect poor black folks to act any differently." I can't? Why not? I expect decent behavior from everybody. I thought the League of Women Voters was non-partisan. As the O's proposals struggle, the race card gets played. It won't work, though, because so many of the O's struggles are with the Dems. Mark Levin's book has sold 1 million copies - without a single MSM review. Your choices show your character, and the Declaration of Dependency. Dr. Sanity. Chavez challenges the US: Stop us from going nuclear I agree that this is nuts: Three quarters of a million arrested for possession of pot in 2008
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Tuesday, September 15. 2009Best new TV series of the seasonBreitbart's Big Government site sure launched with a bang. The ACORN team visits California. For those who have not been following the story, this is not satire. The MSM doesn't want to touch this, because the O served as ACORN's legal counsel, as I understand it. And/or leadership trainer, etc. Beck says ACORN and SEIU are joined at the hip. For more ACORN fun for you hungry squirrels, former ACORN employee Anita Moncrief discussed ACORN corruption. (fixed). This is an old tape. Update: Now it appears that the lady may have been pulling their legs. That makes more sense, because her game was just as outrageous as Jim's.
No American should have to choose between health insurance and getting drunk
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Tuesday morning linksSalad-eating threatens the planet (h/t, Thompson). That means no more salads for me, thank goodness. It's just rabbit food, anyway. Michelle: ACORN is a criminal enterprise. My question is how many of the bad housing loans they were responsible for. And now Senate votes to deny funds to ACORN. Notably, the MSM still ignores the story. Obama as Soros' Manchurian Candidate Why don't we permit interstate insurance sales? How government policies helped create medical care inflation. Kimball on the will to believe Related: The O is deliberately misleading the people. I have no doubt about it.
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Monday, September 14. 2009Newsweek applauds the Death PanelsVia Moonbattery:
Indeed, I see a serious Ageism problem at work here which has been neglected, even while I acknowledge Maureen Dowd's doubtless accurate view that any debate about any of the O's notions is nothing but covert racism. Man, she is so perceptive. Why Not Victory?That rhetorical question from Barry Goldwater still haunts us today. Many of us who supported the Analogies can be misleading. Rather, the question of why not victory is to open readers’ minds to wider possibilities than appear in most of the discussions of what to do about Victory is the accomplishment of the objective of a reasonably lasting situation in which The arguments against a perimeter containment are compelling, as ineffective. The arguments against complete or hasty withdrawal are compelling, as worsening the threats. The arguments against solely counter-insurgency without enough securing forces are compelling, as inadequate. Democratization, modernization, social services, etc. may be tactics toward the objective, but are insufficient without trusted security. Security requires seriously reduced cross-border sanctuaries and support together with seriously diminished internal capabilities of Taliban, Al Quaeda and drug lords. For Afghanistan’s sake, as well as other corollary objectives, that means several measures: 1. Surgically take out Pakistan’s nuclear capability, combined with India’s open pledge and actions to reduce its arming, presence and targeting of Pakistan, recognizing that India’s fears of Pakistan are real; 2. Substantially take out Iran’s nuclear capability, and embargo its critical gas imports; 3. Buy Afghanistan’s opium production while simultaneously training and supplying Afghans who cooperate with viable replacement crops and businesses, to reduce the funds flow to drug lords; 4. With vote of Congress, commit 100,000 more primarily combat troops to Afghanistan to clear and hold, while energetically pursuing longer (2-3 years, at least) building up of competent Afghan security forces, us and they pursuing forward counter-insurgency. In 1964, Goldwater lost by a landslide. The rest is history, or commentary. President Obama, like President Johnson, deserves respect and support for not bugging out. However, experts judge both’s half-way courses result in long drawn out losses. In 2006, President Bush changed course in Barry Goldwater’s words in 1964 are as appropriate now: “Why Not Victory?...I’m convinced that in this year 1964 we must face up to our conscience and make a definite choice. We must decide what sort of people we are and what sort of world we want–now and for our children.”
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All over ACORNThe new site Big Government is all over ACORN. The fact that Obama used to work for them seems of no interest to the MSM. The new undercover videos from NYC are as bad as the other ones. It is clear now that it is up to independent journalists to find the truth. This O'Keefe guy deserves a Pulitzer - but he won't get one. Related: MSM cred sinks to new low Monday morning linksWorld's most expensive dog Review of a new book: The Red Flag: Communism and the Making of the Modern World, by David Priestland The health care "reformers" go after medical technology Tiger. Darn that evil medical technology. Cuba si, Honduras no Polar bear population has increased 5X Norman Borlaug: The Man Who Saved More Human Lives Than Any Other Has Died How the nanny state creates less responsible citizens. Adding to the blogroll: Carpe Diem and Big Government Unemployment will remain high for years. What would Reagan do? Trouble brewing for House Dems
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Sunday, September 13. 2009"Big Government"Andrew Breitbart's new site, Big Government, looks good. I will make it a regular visit. Things on the intertubes keep getting better, thanks to free enterprise. The Conservative Woodstock, plus other linksOr the Patriot's Woodstock? Photo below from a report and good collection of photos - and many amusing signs - at Looking at the Left. Here's how the NYT briefly covered it.
Sen. Feinstein sounding like Rush Sullivan skates after being caught smoking pot in Cape Cod park Honduran "ruler"? I cannot believe the US policy towards these guys. The guy just rescued the country from a dictator. Why men love crazy women The O admin explained, in terms of community organizing A 100 mph anti-smuggling boat They are nuts. Sarkozy's new carbon tax Why the MSM is losing money: propaganda is boring Canadian Human Rights Commission goes after the Catholic Church. h/t, SDA Yes, reader, we did miss this: Who owns the news? It's so smart, I am relinking to this Steyn piece via Barrister:
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Saturday, September 12. 2009???When the AP says, as in this piece,
do they mean that it cannot be linked? What do they mean? Is linking "redistributing"? Help me out, somebody. One would think that they would want linking to their stuff. Well, slap me with a mackeralWell, slap me with a mackeral and call me Edna. Up to 2 million march in DC to protest growing federal power. This puts the anti-Vietnam War protests to shame. Power to the people! We Americans aren't dead yet.
A classic campaign lineObama willing to meet Kim Jong-Il, but not John Boehner. That's the insanity of it all. The Left continues to show their true colors. Saturday morning linksReagan still rules. Odd, isn't it? Who was Rick Rescorla? He helped save a guy I met in NYC. Dave Barry on 9-11, at Wizbang:
Bickering? I'm sorry, but the time for messy democracy is now My time with ACORN. Related: Census Bureau (finally) cuts ties with ACORN What is it about Dems and not paying taxes? Docs: Our patients are not livestock on a government ranch From Rick Moran:
Related: First do harm, then exploit the crisis Related, from Carpe Diem:
Related, from Krauthammer:
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Friday, September 11. 2009We Americans spend money!We spend it because we make it. We spend more on medical care because we can. It's why 75 year-old American men expect to play tennis and ski and climb mountains and chase girls while Euro men that age are hobbling around on canes - if they are still alive. It's not just medical care than we spend more on. We spend more on charity, churches, furniture, research, houses and vacation houses, food, gyms, bass boats, trips, lawn care, gardening, psychotherapy, marriage counseling, cars and F-150s, recreation, clothes, tools, guns, lawyers, starting new businesses, electric guitars, magic crystals, massage, booze, laser-vision, hair transplants, new knees, hips, shoulders and heart valves, sports, education - everything, including rockets to the moon. We are a prosperous nation, but it is not because of good luck. It's because of a culture of work ethic, freedom, the value of free choice, and personal independence. Each person pursuing his own vision of what this brief life ought to be, while constantly contending with hard realities and tough choices. Via Shrinkwrapped, if Italy, France or Germany joined the US, they would be the poorest states in the country. (I always remind myself that, in Europe, it's the mega-wealthy and the fishermen who own boats. In the US, it seems like every cop and fireman has a more expensive one than I do. Well, actually, I managed to sell all of our darn boats last year. What a relief.) Barrister addendum: If we just spent as much on health care as Mexico, think how happy we would be. Dylanologist addendum: The average, middle class person in Europe lives at about the material level of an American on welfare, if not slightly below. I know: I have lived over there.
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Bored with hopey changeyThis came in over the transom. Curiously, most schools hadn't opened yet at the time of the O's nagging nanny speech to schoolkids: "Work hard, stay in school, don't chew gum you don't wanta be a bum, stay outta jail, eat your spinach, become President, bla bla bla." Who needs another Mom? It's easier to BS adults than kids.
Friday morning links500,000,000 year-old photos from Hubble. It's the "Butterfly nebula." Who knew they had digital photography back then? Just 8 years ago. Lucianne If you haven't seen those ACORN videos yet, here they are. Why am I not surprised? 10 questions to ask your Congresscritter, with a sample letter. Villainous All about the Science Czar. The guy is beyond the pale. Palin: Obama is pretty much a dick. Why so many polls of "concern" are worthless. What good are weak students with mushy degrees? Is GDP per capita a good measure of well-being? Goldberg says it: Tom Friedman is a Liberal Fascist. Yes he is. Sad thing is, he doesn't know it: he just thinks he is better than me. Volokh rips him a new one. Who the heck do these people think they are? Where does the Federal government get these powers? Look for the union label: Need more proof that the Dem “health care” reform is more about political power than it is about protecting Americans health? The climate frenzy is unraveling fast. Related: The Brit government is certifiably insane. Organic farms are bad for the birds Olasky: What's up with "social justice"? What do you know about ERISA? Plus a very simple explanation of medical insurance It matters a lot. The devil is always in the details. h/t, Vermont Tiger From a commenter at a CNN piece:
How did Putin get elected? Those bombings remain a mystery. AVI thinking about Archie Bunker and himself The long recent history of heckling Presidents during formal speeches "If we only spent more money on education..." From Coyote:
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Thursday, September 10. 2009Anybody going to Bridgeport for tea tomorrow?Big Tea Party in Bridgeport, CT tomorrow afternoon. Why not stop by if you can? Might be fun. Ann Coulter will be there to help beautify old Bridgeport. Photo is Bridgeport's Seaside Park. Thursday morning linksToon above via Theo Powerline: This was not, to put it kindly, a speech that was directed at thinking people. Tucker Carlson wonders at the O: It's a bunch of lies. Percent of crimes solved. Movement Conservatives vs. The Pragmatists: The Battle is Joined Thomas Friedman goes over the edge. Thus is the inner Fascist revealed. Even O supporter Camille Paglia is beginning to get it. Mr. Free Market: Why We Drink The angry mobs just don't quit. We are never going to see that auto bailout money again. What a waste of taxpayers' hard-earned funds. Barone: The convenient fantasies of Pres. Obama Do our ROE make sense? I do not get the concept of a "nice" battle.
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Wednesday, September 9. 2009Pow! Right in the kisser!From Camille Paglia:
Persevere, etc.From T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII, Editor at Large, the National Topsider:
Weds. morning linksHow Castro got his job through the NYT Why medical care is not a "right". I can easily make a case for the right to "legal care," however. Related: 10 things I hate about health care reform What's the real unemployment rate? Obama everywhere, all the time. He is turning out to be a lightweight, which is a good thing for all of us. What exactly does a union leader know about creating manufacturing jobs? They surely know how to destroy them... The minimum wage hike damaged teens the most If you are from Chris Murphy's district (D-CT), he needs to hear from you The Rubber Room: The battle over NYC's teachers Via Marginal Rev:
Steyn: It's official! Environmentalism is now a religion. The speech begins:
Related, from Insty: TIM NOAH: Please God, no more health reform speeches. Using your computer is killing the planet. Yikes. But I am an addict. I need free help. Wisdom from Milton Friedman, via Dr. Helen's Who cares what a President thinks?:
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Tuesday, September 8. 2009"Where was the government with Studebaker?"PJ O'Rourke at Reason TV. h/t, Driscoll. A quote: "Politics is the attempt to achieve power and prestige without merit". Another: "People who go into politics are bad people." Editor note: Good fun to listen to, even though this is the serious side of PJ.
Tuesday morning linksBD must be hankering for a real cup of coffee this morning after drinking those teeny Euro coffees. They bring it to you and you think "That's it?" And if you ask for a "cafe Americano" they react with disgust, and just add hot water and put it in a bigger cup. Why women have sex: Surber. Sheesh. I thought it was because they were getting damp and crazed with desire for my magnificent body, my Apollonian face, my endless charm and wit, and my six-pack abs... and that it is a gentleman's duty to meet her overheated physical need. Obama the Mortal. Krauthammer Alinksy nods. Tiger The Great Crittendino does economics. How to avoid taxes: run for Congress Cuba's free health care. Wizbang What is it with all of these Czars? Dino. Who are these people? Related: One Czar gone, 30 to go. People Power. A quote:
Related, from Powerline:
I got a kick out of Dr. Merc's post about Life on Other Worlds It's always fun to catch up on Moonbattery when you have been away for four weeks or so. A book: The Complete Therese of Lisieux. The O and the Dems face a tough September.
Frugality is the new normal. Hollywood goes nuts over Chavez. What is more greedy-Capitalist than Hollywood? Go figure. "First we socialize all the lawyers": Am Digest. Dr. Merc found this site. Cool. Here's another from them:
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Monday, August 31. 2009Bruce’s Two-BitsPreparing for 2010. + Ed Morrissey opines: “Maybe the question isn’t so much whether the GOP can win back control of the house, but how quickly that possibility has arisen since Democrats took full control of the Beltway.” Then, Ed raises the ifs-ands-and-buts. Likely voters: Obama -11%, 30% strongly approve vs 41% strongly disapprove; rest are up for grabs or grabbing lunch or not paying attention as busy working to pay taxes. Obama = Ivy-League Huey Long, says George Will Victors in
“And now, my Famous All-Time All-Jewish Baseball Team, including some backup players” Without major personnel changes, the Khmer Rouge trial risks descending into farce. Economic Conditions and US National Security in the 1930’s and Today Reuters notes, “Most economists in the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) semi-annual poll were concerned about the outlook for the Hollywood’s perverted patriotism My friend Richard Fernandez: Santa Claus versus the Martians
“Higher human needs”! Study: “We find significant differences in the response of donations to taxes across different types of charities. Donations to charities that provide basic goods and services to humans in need appear to be unresponsive to tax incentives, while donations to charities that appeal to higher human needs, animals, and the environment are very sensitive to tax incentives.” In other words, we help the needy, regardless of tax benefits, but the government has to incent us to give to those deemed deserving by government. |