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, June 17. 2009Weds. morning linksThe Liberal solution is always more government. Hubris and power-seeking are their problems. Their shame is their distrust in the peoples' ability to run their own lives: maybe some cannot or will not, but I do not like to be governed as if I were the lowest common denominator. Is anything anybody does "Interstate commerce"? Montana and guns How competition, not regulation, could transform American medicine. Why the Dreamliner, Boeing's cool new plastic airplane, is two years late Semi-related: This is a good time to be the market for an airplane. I wish. But I am an oppressed wage slave (wage + bonus slave) of the Capitalist System and thus will not get my own personal G4 until Obama gives me one. Still waiting. Will global cooling damage Al Gore's cred? The WaPo wants you to bail out California. Who's gonna bail me out?
Geert Wilders' June 14 speech about preventing the Islamization of Europe. h/t, Theo Walpin update at Insty A new church: The Anglican Church in North America. Hmmm. If, unlike the Brit Anglicans, they seek faith in God and want to save souls, good on 'em. Via Am Digest at Belmont Club, Home, sweet home:
Rebecca Bynum asks whether Islam is a religion. One quote:
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06:01
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Tuesday, June 16. 2009Please remind me why the government should run medical careSomebody please remind me what the alleged rationale is for a government take-over of medical care in America. It sure isn't those uninsured, since the plan admits it would only cover 1/4 of them (16 million out of a supposed 50 million uninsured). Or is it a simple power grab of a large % of the US economy by the politicians, who admit that they intend to eliminate any private medical care and any private medical insurance thus putting us all helplessly and powerlessly into the hands of a government monopoly? I, for one, would hate to see the destruction of American medicine purely for ideological (Socialist) and power-lust reasons. Primum non nocere. Mind you, I always thought that Social Security and Medicare should be means-tested for the poor, and not general entitlements. Related: This is what happens when medical care becomes politicized. Do you think some ER Doc wants to spend a half hour on the phone explaining to a government bureaucrat why he wants you to have a CAT scan when he has an acute MI in the next bed, a GI bleeder in the next room, and a non-English-speaking drunk attacking your security guard down the hall? Related: Moonbattery puts it this way
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18:19
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Tuesday mid-day linksProductive Californians are leaving in droves to the Dust Bowl. Photo from link. I like these trails, but why does the government have to do it? Volunteers would do this. Cool English gates, with When milliseconds really matter Credit card regulation. If you don't like your credit cards, get rid of them. They can compete, and we are capable of making our own decisions. The sun would roast us if the earth didn't have tricks to radiate heat The O's mega-trillion take-over won't do much for "the uninsured." Thus proving, once again, that those uninsured are just pawns in a bigger political power game. More later. Very busy today with a cool new biz proposal I dreamed up.
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11:51
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White House running ABCVia Drudge, ABC turns programming over to White House. Good grief. So much for the MSM, press ethics, and journalistic healthy skepticism and integrity. But that's not news. This is a sick, perverted symbiosis. Monday, June 15. 2009Monday evening linksAVI's theory on not hitting squirrels with your car Walpin gives the inside story. It's an ugly story. Imagine if Bush...aw, why do I keep saying that? Hayek: Why I am not a Conservative. h/t, Neptunus Men are now on the wrong side of the degree gap at every stage of education Immigrants from redistributionist countries vote for redistributionists The realities of college education: Four years of propaganda, partying, and buying a mostly worthless degree. Conservatism thrives. All it needs are compelling leaders. Related: The Gallup poll. Related: Is Sarah the threat? The Boston Globe is on sale. Minimum wages do cause unemployment. The public plan would be the only plan. Related: the CBO will have something to say about it. I'm beginning to think that the Admin bit off more than they can chew. Related from Dick Morris: The O's issues are crumbling. Related from Samuelson: Naive, hypocritical, and dishonest, Related from Yuval Levin and Kristol: Defeat Obamacare. Also related: the Indian Health Service as a model Chris Dodd's wife, via Insty Fancy a cuppa?
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19:52
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BermudaThe Bird Dog family has a multi-generational attachment to Bermuda. We always stay at Cambridge Beaches: it's our place. No glitz, unostentatious, no jacuzzis, heavy on Brits, lots of little one-room "villas" perched on the hill over the ocean, sort-of mediocre but edible food. I like to feed on Grouper, Bermuda Fish Chowder, Conch fritters and Dark 'n Stormies whenever I am in Grouper-land. (We do not golf, so we do not need the Mid-Ocean Club.) You can walk to a place that rents little Whalers and snorkeling or scuba gear, and they will give you a map of the good coral reefs. You go offshore and find them yourself. Mopeds always, but you drive on the left so it's a bit of an IQ test in the traffic circles. It would pain me to see the US take over Cambridge Beaches as a place to put the Gitmo terrorists. It would tick off the Brits too, no doubt. Tehran
Remarkable cell phone (?) video from Iran protests, at LGF
Leading Dem Pollster Admits Obamacare Seen Lacking
So says Stanley Greenberg, CEO and co-chair with Dem pitbull James Carville of polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner. Greenberg served as a polling advisor to President Bill Clinton, was deeply involved in Greenberg points out that, “the country has maintained the same anxieties about government's ability to improve the system.” Greenberg continues:
For example: “It may surprise you that Obama has already lost seniors, according to our current survey--only one-third approve of his plan. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see there isn't much in it for them.” Similarly for union members: “Yet the members will ultimately judge whether the plan is good for their families--and I'm certain that all the talk about taxing insurance contributions has not gone unnoticed.” Similarly for blue collar Americans: “Ross Perot is a distant memory, but his more libertarian, blue-collar male voters are very much alive. They are pretty certain government will mess this up--and only about 30 percent support Obama's health care plan right now. With Republicans reciting their mantra about no ‘government takeover’ of health care, the plan's opponents have found a common text.” Greenberg ends with:
“Health care is but a pile of bricks in the new foundation” by Obama for
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10:48
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Monday morning linksHow the Uighurs got to Bermuda Kucinich tells Ken Lewis how to run a bank The O as the Great Leveler. So why would anybody work hard? Boarded-up palaces in Detroit Anarchy in Rotterdam Imagine if these were Repubs. Also, the Walpin story at Powerline and more at Wash Times Perhaps it's time to apply even stronger adjectives to N Korea Moonbat thinking from Monbiot The road to single-payer begins with public option deception. The goal is to eliminate choice. Bill Maher to Obama: Get off TV and start socializing the country, darn it. US Chamber of Commerce to O: Stop ruining our country Ezra Levant, CTV, and the censors Why do they hate her? Via Protein Biden on the Stimulus: We guessed wrong. That's a lie. It was pure political payoff. CBS: Ahmadinejad is George Bush? WTH? Related: Pre-election polls showed Ahmad. with strong majority Union Jack banned at Heathrow
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07:01
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Saturday, June 13. 2009Like he saysFrom Dick Morris:
Saturday morning linksPhoto: Pres. Bush jumps from 10,000 feet for his 85th Birthday. His comment: "I don't feel a day over 84" Have you seen Wolfram Alpha? http://www.wolframalpha.com/ The 2009 Zagat Fast Food Ratings Somebody is getting pissed off. VDH with Just Make Stuff Up: President Obama’s war on the truth. What the heck constitutes an actionable hostile work environment? Ain't Socialism great? Chavez to shut down another critical TV station The Animal Rescue Site needs your help http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3 Why Philip Morris backed the tobacco bill. (h/t, Tiger) Regulations always work for somebody. Yes, Obama still smokes. Yes, it is a political scandal. Americorps. Imagine if Bush had... Also at Dino: Health care and the youth vote Why is the gay Bishop worring about this instead of worrying about saving souls? Urge ya to at least listen to the first part of Prof. Plimer Afghanistan isn't a nation. It's a place. Neptunus California: In spite of having the highest taxes in the nation, the state is broke. Good example of how to lie with graphs Canada's ObamaCare precedent. It's not for me. Why bands like to perform on carpets Frum is not thrilled with Mark Levin's book Many students should give community college a try. There's a lot more to life than 4-year college. Bulldozing shrinking cities. Sounds like a good idea to me. Start with the suburbs and the malls. From Insty:
Lefties like their spankings. No Pasaran Why the Supremes should and probably will strike down Chicago's gun ban Ace: More evidence that President Obama is everything the left accused George W. Bush What if the Bush family tried this? Uighurs to Bermuda. Sheesh. Dino on the O's self-obsession:
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08:01
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Friday, June 12. 2009Global cooling dangersOur current global cooling trend threatens world grain production. If warming were doing this, it would be front page news. Friday morning linksYou do not want to know yourself Repubs should adopt a strict paygo How ACORN intends to use the US Census WUWT looks back at his first weather station inspiration How to save $: Let the boomers die Villainous, on how I became a Conservative. One quote:
Herbal "medicines, at Insty:
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06:10
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Thursday, June 11. 2009Outnumbered 8-1: A good day for the CorpsIt begins:
Whole thing at One Marine's View This is your federal government on drugs1. Dems seek to control executive pay 2. How and why to stop the nationalization of medical care. Related, if medical insurance is a right (how can it be?), then how can it be forced on you? They don't force us to buy guns. 3. What's on the Dems' nationalization agenda after medical care? Education. Yes, they want to run K-12 education next. Heck, they are so good at running things, aren't they? 4. Your tax dollars to pay for lawyers for Jihadists 5. Taking global warming hysteria seriously Crack, coke, or LSD? You tell me. Ed note: Great minds think alike. I see neoneo on this same theme today. Thursday mid-day linksOn reading difficult books. Chronicle. Somebody's got to do it. The morally superior continent of righteous indignation. Basking Sharks in Cornwall. Cool underwater. What is courage? The latest on those fancy spies for Cuba. Can this be said? Sub-Saharan African IQs. I tend to doubt it's true, but what do I know? Or maybe it's the Flynn Effect. Financial crises can arise from extreme bad luck. Indeed. What you should know about CPR. Video Tornado passed over their car this week. Video Rush: Free speech is in danger. Is it true that the US is the only nation with free speech? Yes, it is shaping up to be the year without a summer. Global warming does that. The Japanese aren't worried. They will play the game, but they don't mean it. It's all a big joke, but it is not funny that the earth is cooling. Dems double down on medical care. Politico Is the O America's first Muslim President? Kinda sorta, yes. Rove: Dowd is twisted, deranged. Nothing that a studly Republican boyfriend couldn't cure. Update on the California Meltdown. Good grief. They are like little children. McArdle: Nobody really cares about the deficit. But markets do care. Vanderleun's proposals for a new foreign policy approach A dreamer at the helm: Nyquist
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11:03
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Two must-reads this morning
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05:59
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Wednesday, June 10. 2009AMA Rejects Obamacare RxHugh Hewitt has been calling on the nation’s doctors to take their customary leading role of trust by Americans to oppose Obamacare, especially the so-called “public” (read, government) health insurance that would displace private insurance at astronomical costs, bureaucracy, and interference in medical advancements and treatment decisions. Hewitt has been pessimistic they would, feeling the American Medical Association is “cowed…by the Obama/Pelosi/Reid hard-left edge of the Democratic Party.” Hewitt should have had more faith in the AMA’s 250,000 doctors. The New York Times reports:
The New York Times tries to cushion the blow to Obamacare advocates by saying:
However, the New York Times fails to mention that the Physicians for a National Health Program claims just “more than 16,000 members,” and that one does not have to be a physician to join, its joining page requiring just “$40 / Year -- Health reform advocates (Non Physicians)” to be a member. I suppose that the NYTs’ coverage of Obama’s speech to the AMA’s convention next Monday will laud Obama for his great courage in telling the overwhelming majority of the nation’s doctors they don’t know medicine.
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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23:38
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Battle as crime sceneIt is loony. Everybody will need to bring a lawyer to a fight instead of one of these cool machines:
Weds. afternoon linksPhoto is Pvt. Long. Did he die in battle? One more reason to teach your dog the command "Drop it" Cheerful news: Colombia - A nation Reborn How's that Porkulus working out for ya? Related: NYT blames Bush for the growing deficits. Liars. Related, via Front Page:
Related, via Viking:
A glimpse at the Real America LAT shows some consistency on rights Crumbling municipal finance. Watch out for your munis: they are not guaranteed. Video: Jon Voight at the Repub fundraiser Why oil prices rise despite a recession Inflation and higher interest rates on the way. WSJ Ditto, Jammie:
Warfare: It is For the common good Could British Christians Be Sued for Having Crucifixes in Their Home? h/t, Anchoress A little birdie told Sissy that the GOP is back. But is Newt running for Pres? Conservatives beware, lest you drive moderates to extremism. Huh? Local Math Wars. h/t, RW Prof. My view? Just make 'em learn to use it. Even geniuses don't necessarily understand the depths of math, much less the rug rats. I thought Hartford would be on the list, but I guess there's nobody left to rob there. Top 15 crime cities in the US. Note absence of NYC. Cruel and unfunny, Dave. She visited NYC to raise $ for autism, for heaven's sake. Tax tall people. Mankiw Even some in the media are getting nauseated by Obamamania in the press
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15:07
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Obamacare Payoff To Unions92% of labor unions’ political contributions have gone to Democrats since 1990. The unions are slated to get another payoff from Congressional Democrats’ proposed health care legislation. Senator Max Baucus, lead on the legislation in Congress, the Washington Post reports, “told reporters that taxing employer-provided benefits is ‘perhaps the best way to raise money for an overhaul of the health-care system’ and offered details about the form that tax is likely to take.” Among the details: “And it would be likely to ‘grandfather’ in health benefits set as part of a collective-bargaining agreement, he said, allowing union plans to remain tax-free until new contracts can be negotiated.” This is in contrast to the contractual rights of bondholders in the heavily unionized auto industry being overridden (not “negotiated”), and unions given a disproportionate share of the reorganized companies to support their comparatively lavish health care benefits. The priority of unions and their bought Democrat legislators will be to preserve their overly large piece of the pie in such “negotiations.” The latest count from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has 7.6% of private industry workers as members of unions, and 36.8% of public sector workers. Their often gilt-edged health care coverage is to be given higher protection than that of non-unionized workers. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports, as USA Today relates:
The rest of the two-thirds of the population under age 65 with employer-provided health insurance be darned, sayeth the Democrats with the union label. While your reading, don't miss Ed Morrissey on Big Labor's Fiscal Insolvency, just desserts for where they're taking the rest of us.
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10:39
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Krauthammer takes the cakeIf anyone deserves it, he does. From his speech:
Boycott?The ethical case for boycotting GM and Chrysler. A quote:
Tuesday, June 9. 2009Tuesday afternoon linksJohn Quincy Adams, at Anchoress. Remarkable to me that we have a photo of him, in old age. Young country we have here. Guy started spying during Carter, but they blame Bush anyway. Just one more greedy, money-hungry Leftist. I cannot believe the Brits take this sort of thing lying down. What's the matter with them? How did our bold ancestors become so limp? Is it the food? They are becoming an embarassment to their descendents by behaving as if they have no penises. Why doesn't she just admit that she enjoyed it? They raped me respectfully. There are none so blind... Jobs "saved or created"? Pure BS, and everybody except the press knows it. Obama to American businesses: Drop dead. A quote:
How Sociology majors destroy the world. SDA Newt: The O has already failed. But he is so groovy. How do you decide which minorities get affirmative action, and which do not? Betsy China wants US debt in yuan, not dollars. Stupid they are not. Very cool econo-graphs The O graciously noted that the Americans on D-Day "did not behave dishonorably." WTH? Does GM=Amtrak? We love Amtrak, but we dislike those subsidies. Thinking vs doing in medicine. DB's Medical Rants Who says we can't deport the illegals? Apparently we can when we want to. Flunking history in Cairo: Almost every advance he attributed to the Muslims in his big speech should be credited to someone else. But the whole purpose was to butter them up, I suppose.
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13:52
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