Maggie's Farm

I am with Right Wing Prof on this

The NYT was spinning so fast that they can't stop now. Or maybe they will be spinning in their grave.

What's "middle class," and why does the Liberal elite have contempt for it?

I'm not dead yet! SDA. Sheesh. We need more laws against hate!

Related: From Thomas Frank: Liberals shouldn't be overconfident.

Whither affirmative action? Thompson. Unless you want to make the case that we stuck a black guy with the most thankless job on earth.

Related, re Bush via Roger Simon:

Our failure to stand by the one person who continued to stand by us has not gone unnoticed by our enemies. It has shown to the world how disloyal we can be when our president needed loyalty — a shameful display of arrogance and weakness that will haunt this nation long after Mr. Bush has left the White House.

Also related: Will everyone get a pony?

We get a photo of Coyote. I think he's the one on the left. Just one more Princeton blogger.

Still spinning despair at the LAT, but as Surber notes:

Yes, yes, yes. I see. Unemployment is 6%. Gasoline prices are a whopping $2 a gallon. The Dow is 9,000. People are actually paying cash for things.

Run for your lives.

I read stuff like this online and I am reminded of reporter Ken Herman’s observation: “If there’s anything reporters know better than math, it’s fashion.”

Was this a "I want my Mommy" election? I don't think so, mostly.

From Insty:

RUNNING THE NUMBERS: "More generally, the picture is of a solid Democratic win, but not the tsunami some had expected. Obama won the popular vote by a solid, but not crushing, margin of slightly less than six percent (52.4-46.5). Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole by a significantly greater margin and even greater relative percentage (49.25-40.71), and George Bush by a slightly lower margin, but higher relative percentage (43.01-37.45). Bush, meanwhile, beat Dukakis by a larger margin, 53.4 to 45.6. The Democrats picked up about twenty House seats, on the low end of the expected range. And, as noted above, they seem likely to pick up five or six Senate seats,which would make the Senate races either 18-16 in favor of the Democrats, or tied at 17-17, again on the low end of the expected range."

VDH wonders how Obama will govern. I agree that he deliberately made himself a mystery man. One of VDH's comments:

I don’t know what Obama feels about drilling, nuclear power, FISA, NAFTA, capital punishment, abortion, guns, Iran, the surge, Jerusalem, campaign financing, etc. But I do get the impression that he is more or less cognizant that most of his views around 2006 were at odds with the American people’s, and so he had to change or drop them (and most of his social circle) to get elected, or at least mention them only at small private gatherings in San Francisco.

The mystery? Will he revert back to the constant Obama of the last 30 years who waged  dirty 1996 and 2004 campaigns, and shared apparently ideologies with Ayers, Khalidi, Pfleger, and Wright and others in his Chicago extremist cadre? Or will he govern as a center-leftist, corralling a Frank, Pelosi, and Reed and the most fringe beyond them?

Wow. The people spoke. The silver lining I can find in this cloud is that we elected a black guy as President. That is remarkable and quite wonderful. I wish him wisdom. Still, I had hoped that the first black Pres would be from the party of Lincoln.

Another plus is that the Repubs will be forced to renew and refresh themselves, and come up with a farm team of younger, smarter, more exciting and more inspiring candidates, with messages to suit the times. And I do not mean Mitt Romney.

I'll admit to feeling bummed, but not at all surprised, by the outcome. I think John McCain did darn well considering everything that was dragging him down: a relentlessly hostile press, a hugely unpopular Bush, union money and a huge campaign $ disparity, economic fears, age, the Obama Cult of Personality - and his awareness throughout that the tides were running against him. Not to mention the perennial problem that Conservatives have in elections: they rightly find it hard to make goody-bag promises because they put their faith in free people rather than in government.

I doubt anyone could have done better than McCain did this year, and I doubt he would have done better with Giuliani instead of Palin. The press would have Palinized Rudy too. (Well, on further thought, maybe Rudy could have done a better job than McCain: he's brighter and quicker but, perhaps, less likeable.)

I think the Dems face the danger of over-reading this election. It's a common error for both parties. I do not feel that this election was an endorsement of a left-wing agenda but more an expression of general unease, Bush-fatique, and disgruntlement - mixed with a strong dose of celebrity-excitement. It's still the same center-right nation that it was last year, and every move the Dems make now will annoy some group or other. This Congressional leadership is not only loony-left but full of vengeance - and pent-up spending ideas. Hold onto your wallets, because we could quickly become the highest-taxed country in the developed world (we're almost there already).

But who is going to benefit immediately from this election?

- Gun dealers. If there are a few guns you've always wanted, now's the time.
- Tax accountants, tax lawyers, financial planners and estate planners
- Off-shore bankers
- Off-shore realtors: watch more businesses move divisions to foreign HQs which are more hospitable to enterprise.

And, finally, consider this condundrum, especially those readers who are my fellow conservatives: How does one win national elections when you have to concede NY, California, and the rust belt in advance? Not to mention my New England?

Since we're voting mostly - but not entirely - Repub today, I'm thinking that it would be fun to have Wooly Mammoths around again (and just in time for global cooling). Some probably think we are such paleocons here that an extinct Wooly Mammoth should be our symbol. But maybe they can come back to life...

Richard Baehr's election predictions.  Assuming that Obama wins, I wouldn't underestimate the power of the endorsements by people like Warren Buffet, Colin Powell, Bill Weld, and others who provided Establishment respectability cover for a guy whose kind of shady past would never have survived press scrutiny had he been a Repub.

Fr. West's Blog: 100+ reasons not to vote for Obama

Larry Auster is writing in Tom Tancredo. That's a de facto vote for Obama.

Re this morning's video ad, one might say "All that is missing is a statement from Obama saying that this is not the Obama that he knew…" I think this fellow is in over his head.

GRE scores ranked by field of graduate study. It helps explain why financial firms like to hire Physics PhDs: they are smart.

The "home ATM" is shutting down.

Why do some animals' eyes glow at night?

An instant Gay Test (for guys)

Americans in Israel: 74% for McCain. Duh.

Re Sarah: Typical politics. Yep, smears and insinuations stick. That's why people use them. The "politics of personal destruction" is fine when Dems use it. But where does Sarah go to get her reputation back?

Repubs have been losing the media battlefield since 1968. Indeed. We have noted that here many times. Many people seem to go into that field to save the world without doing anything themselves.

Whither Conservatism? McArdle. I read such things with skepticism, because I think politics has a lot to do with timing and the right communicative talent and tone for the time. Often those seem more important than ideology. Bush was not elected on ideology.

Obama, via Blue Crab:

You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.

From Dr. Sanity:

"WE MUST NOT LET THE DEMOCRATS AND THE LEFT GET AWAY WITH THE PREMISE THAT OBJECTIVE REALITY DOES NOT EXIST. WE MUST NOT LET THEM ARGUE THAT ALL TRUTH IS RELATIVE, BUT THEN CLAIM THAT THEY ALONE POSSESS IT EXCLUSIVELY."

Related: Shrinkwrapped also waxes Chestertonian, but it's not a religious argument.

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.

via Ed Driscoll:

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.

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:

What do Obama's crowds mean? WSJ. Bill Clinton implies that Obama's not too smart. No, but he is clever and ruthless. Obama, the Red Diaper Baby.

Voter fraud chic at The Gap. Michelle. Groovy.

Barack's aunt finally found. I think he wants me to take care of her.

If CO2 is classified as a dangerous pollutant... Yeah, and we'll all be taxed for breathing and farting. Tax beans! Farting should be taxed, come to think of it, to discourage it.

Nice grouchy rant. Alphecca.

Government isn't charity. NRO. No, it is not. Money at gunpoint doesn't count as charity.

Finally, an LAT protest. Power to the people!

Checks on Joe more extensive than realized. Imagine if Repubs did that. We'd be hearing about fascist police state tactics.

I do not understand why banks are being forced to take bailout funds if they don't need it.

From Babalu, via Driscoll:

By placing their hopes and aspirations in the hands of Obama, they have in effect transferred the individual faith they have in themselves to another person. A person who has promised to make their dreams come true for them. No longer will they have to fight, or struggle, or even work to achieve their dreams; Obama promises to do it all for them. But sooner, rather than later, they will realize that Obama can never deliver on this impossible promise. It is then when they will experience a pain much greater than they can imagine; the pain of realizing that you gave up not only your most sacred dreams and hopes to someone else, but that you gave up hope on yourself so that someone else can do it for you.

From Dr. Bob:

Let the culture go where it may; we must be a true light. It is time to abandon the delusion that we may change the hopeless by becoming more like them — we must instead become a shining city on a hill, a stark contrast to the darkness which surrounds us. If what we believe is true — and it is — then those who run from truth may well see in us an answer to their failed and fruitless pursuits, to the shallow shell of a life lived in self-gratification and the pursuit of pleasure and power.

We will be misunderstood, hated, ridiculed, rejected. So be it — our strength will lie in one another, and in Him who calls us to holiness.

Amen!

A reminder that Halloween is the eve of All Hallow's Day, ie All Saint's Day. Like so many Christian holy days, it was moved from May to overlap with an existing pagan festival in the 700s. Here's a painting by Daniel Maclise of a Halloween party he attended in Blarney in 1832: