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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Friday, December 24. 2010Rush's Good CheerJust had to say that Rush is so kind and good and understanding with his Lib callers. He has a bigger heart than any angry or chronically-depressed Lib, and is full of encouragement for those who want to do things in life instead of sitting on their butts with excuses and complaints, on ye olde pity pot. He is positive and cheerful, the way proud, free Americans, with their heritage of amazing opportunity, ought to be. He's on 770 on AM radio up here. He is a genius at handling hostile calls with grace, good humor, and even affection. He needs more of those callers. (Call me a fool, but I am wrapping and listening, like the ignorant clinger that I am, and preparing for cocktail hour. Christmas music then.) A Merry Christmas to good old Rush! He keeps me amused and encouraged whenever I need it.
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Christmas Eve morning linksI know everybody is doing their Christmas shopping today, but I have some links anyway if you have time. I am heading up to MA to see the family, with my sack of goodies for them.
Cal Thomas: What if the Christmas story is true? Kimball: ’Tis the Season to Be Politically Correct.
Gerald goes to WalMart Wind power? It's a scam. The rent-seekers are all over it. How Democrats gave up on religious voters It’s official: Polar bear not an endangered species He knows what is best for you. All about Cass Sunstein: A Czar is Born 45 people lynched amid Haiti cholera fears. Haiti's real problem is cultural. Iran Just Shipped Missiles to Venezuela. Hello? Is This Thing On? Buying up the entire Western world at discount prices: Fresh humiliation for eurozone as China says it will bail out debt-ridden nations Malpractice costs and defensive medicine costs, in NY Pajamas: American Leftists Refuse to See the Handwriting on the Wall in Europe -Our domestic lefties have been pushing for decades to turn us into the type of society that is now crumbling before our eyes in Europe. Not All Global Warming Skeptics Are Crackpots?!? Slate: Whose Internet Is It, Anyway? Let's drive 'em all out of business: UAW’s King Announces 2011 Goals: Target Foreign-Owned Auto Plants. No, they'll just move their factories to Mexico. After predicting a mild winter, the British weather service is profoundly embarrassed by the current deep freeze Uncle Sam Will Help Buy You an Alpaca - How the government produces negative unintended consequences Q&O: Is access to the internet a “civil right”? Driscoll: Global Warming Died; Women, Children, AlGore Hardest Hit Other McCain: Class Warfare vs. Economic Facts Neptunus on ROTC:
Obama Administration Admits Polar Bears Are Not ‘Endangered’ But Sets Aside 187,000 Miles For Them Anyway. Very scientific. Pilot exposes TSA baloney, gets in trouble:
We misunderestimated him: Bush's memoir sells 2m copies in a month - nearly as many as Bill Clinton's sold in six years The Krautman says something people don't want to hear: Obama's new start
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Thursday, December 23. 2010Christmas Eve Eve linksThe experts were wrong: Carbs are the problem - not fat You can now eat all the fat you want. Eating fat doesn't make you fat. Where germs breed on airplanes Bishop Tutu Is No Saint When it Comes To Jews Driscoll: Mega-Consumers against Consumerism John Fund: The Net Neutrality Coup - The campaign to regulate the Internet was funded by a who's who of left-liberal foundations. A quote:
Armies always used to take control of the radio stations first Obamacare is a government takeover Happy Kwanzaa, Commies, Racists, and Psychopaths Obama Supported Ousted Honduran Thug Zelaya to Appease Chavez School Requires Permission Slips for Pledge
Wednesday, December 22. 2010Greenies: It's the politics, stupidStolen in full (because it is so well-said) from Never Yet Melted's Van Jones Urges Young Supporters “To Pretend” EPA Regulations Are Needed:
Rush has been making accusations about this for years, and so have we. It's good to hear somebody confess the scam in public. The innocent, ignorant, and sanctimonious Greenies are the useful idiots in this game.
Posted by The News Junkie
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17:46
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A Jewelry Store at Christmastime, and the economyStopped by my local jewelers at lunchtime today (to pick up a repaired watch - not shopping). The place was packed, and I had to wait a while despite there being 8 salespeople. The lady who retrieved my watch showed me a $285,000 watch. Used. It doesn't look fancy or flashy at all. She told me they would sell it this week, already sold one just like it earlier in the week. I admired it, but I prefer my old Accutron that my wife gave me the first year we were married (and my Timex Explorer for banging around). She also showed me a pretty bracelet, $60,000. She said they had had five of them three weeks ago, now down to this last one. They have an armed rent-a-cop on duty full time. When I finally got my watch delivered from the repair and jewelry construction area upstairs, she handed it to me and said "No charge. It was a simple repair, just a cleaning and oiling. Merry Christmas."
Posted by Bird Dog
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15:51
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A creative solution to eminent domain conflictsIt's money. At The American. One quote:
Pay them the real value. Makes sense to me. ComplianceAt Pajamas, ‘Compliance’: The Word That Sunk a Million U.S. Jobs
It's not just cheaper labor - it's the hassle factor.
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10:29
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Weds. morning linksHave Feminists Gotten It All Wrong? Can a woman deviate from the fixed feminist-approved life path and still be a woman in full? Obama's mystery proposal to regulate the Internet Also, at WaPo: Hands off tomorrow's Internet:
Price controls: U.S. Proposes Rules on Raising Insurance Premiums We all know that the long game is to put them out of business In New Maps, 'An Embarrassment of Riches' for GOP SANDERS: Afghanistan and worldwide jihadism Obama administration readies indefinite detention order for Guantanamo detainees Do the farmers feed us, or do we feed the farmers? And another issue: Do they care what that E-10 already does to our 2-cycle engines? What will E-15 do to a chain saw? Re farmers, you got money for "attempting to farm" Tuesday, December 21. 2010Tuesday morning solstice linksOur linking function has been misbehaving, hence the messy post. If some do not work, apologies.
Ziegler: Media Misinformation 2010 vs. 2008 Reason on Jail: Beyond Bars - A new project has conservatives thinking more seriously about crime. I do not like jail for non-violent crime. That's my tax money - for what? How many times have you heard this story, at Prof B: “This is life" ... No, it's narcissism on a huge scale A month ago, Brit climate models said WINTER TO BE MILD PREDICTS MET OFFICE Related, DHS Defends Against Nonexistent Climate Crisis Finally, a job DHS can do Also related, A Junk Science Czar — Schwarzenegger Wants to Work in the Obama Administration Fighting Non-Existent Global Warming Related: Hugh Hewitt: California's economic suicide now includes cap-and-trade And more at Driscoll: ‘Global Cooling is what we must expect because of Global Warming’ It's scientific, you see NPR's Nina Totenberg Apologizes For Saying "Christmas"
Q&O: Why you have to react to every story about government overreach About Regulatory Capture Interesting assumptions underlying a study about Fox viewers’ ignorance Count me in. Warren on the Dechristianizations of the Middle East Insty noted the existence of a book which tells you:
Samuelson: Cheating Our Children (Again) Monday, December 20. 2010A government solution in search of a problem - the internet"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." Ronald Reagan McDowell in the WSJ re internet regulation, The FCC's Threat to Internet Freedom:
Few recent innovations have grown as quickly, organically, and freely without interference, as this thing. So how can governments resist finding some excuse to mess with it?
Posted by Bird Dog
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12:26
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Monday morning linksThe Small-Business Hiring Outlook? Two More Years Wandering In The Desert The chess game China is playing Jacoby: The great Romneycare denial Vanderleun on abortion Soros vs Murdoch: The battle for the soul of America Robert Reich wants bigger govt to deal with inequality The case for the constitutionality of the individual mandate Arab-Israeli peace process is stuck in 1949 Gays in the Military, ROTC back on Campus? Wkly Std: Class Warfare - The last refuge of a Democrat.
Sunday, December 19. 2010DADT Repeal: What Comes Next? Pentagon Asked, Tells Combat Troops Not To TellI care that some friends who are gay or defend gays, as I have at corporate career risk many times, have an opposite view of the immediate congressional repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). But, I care more about the immediate effect on the welfare of US combat troops and for US national security. Yes, “national security” is a BIG term, and can be read as overexpansive. Yet, that is precisely what is stake, in immediate and longer-term consequences. Neither the US nor our military will fall off a cliff. However, the immediate repeal of DADT is another slip down the decline of a strong US foreign policy. Most liberals may see no problem or that as desirable. The majority of Americans and nations do not see the US policies of which this is part that way. There is no reason to doubt, and to even applaud, that the majority of Americans and of military servicemembers do not have strong objections to, or favor, gays serving openly in the US military. It is a commendable affirmation of American fairness. Further out, a less rapid and more measured elimination of DADT may be more practical. Some Western nations have openly gay military service, almost all in non-combat positions, but their militaries are weak and dependent upon US forces and umbrella, none of them taking the commitment and responsibility for the magnitude of the tasks the US does. Israel’s military is raised as an exception, but that ignores the different realities there which even official US reports recognize. At the same time, it ignores or is a repudiation of the warriors who now serve in the front-lines, whose tight bonds with and complete trust and reliance upon the guy next to him determines his very survival, as the New York Times interviews of Marines makes clear. The majority of combat troops see the possible negative impacts, as clear in the Pentagon report, and some will pay with their careers or lives. The official Pentagon summary says 70% of the military see a positive or neutral effect, but that skews the actual poll result: 20% saw no and 19% positive impact, 30% negative, and 32% some of both. The majority of Marine and Army combat troops saw negative impacts. Nothing in the Pentagon report says there will be betterment of military effectiveness, which should be the key issue. Our military exists to accomplish combat missions, first and primary, above all. The major veterans organizations and the largest number of retired generals and admirals ever to publicly speak out on a military issue – 1167 – expressed their opposition to immediate repeal of DADT. The immediate repeal of DADT is especially dangerous to the combat units and troops, already under severe stress. Further, both Admiral Mullens testified to Congress and General Petraeus’ Command Sergeant Major clearly stated that combat troops can either stifle or get out. If you look at the Pentagon “implementation plan” attached to its survey of attitudes, focus on the supposedly guiding “Vignettes” appendix (p.69 fwd). The New York Times comments of the implementation plan, "The plan offers few specifics on the substance of the training to be provided." In almost every case, there is no real answer to how to deal with challenges to military order or living conditions. Instead, the Vignettes repeatedly just rely upon command judiciousness, which in effect will mostly mean accommodation or acquiescence, for the sake of their own careers. There can be little doubt, under the best of circumstances, that boundaries will be constantly disputed, will take up much time and resources, and thus distract from focus on military effectiveness issues. The limit on the military’s costs and troubles of accommodating gay marriage, the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) only recognizing heterosexual legal unions, is under judicial challenge. Gay rights activists intend for DADT repeal to be the precursor to DOMA repeal. So, expect further turmoil in the ranks and defense budgets. The actual repercussions will be less than the worst case in most cases. No one expects gay – or liberal or libertarian -- enlistments or service in combat units to surge or, even, increase by a tiny fraction of a percent. However, the efforts to accommodate that relatively tiny number will still consume much effort and resources, and will establish conditions that significantly affect the majority of combat troops. Similarly, no one expects newfound support from those opposed to our military’s missions or who ignore our troops’ safety. Meanwhile, a much larger number of those who do enlist will not or will not re-enlist or will be ushered out of the military. Talk to combat troops and veterans, as I frequently do, and the resentment quickly comes out at the excesses of “political correctness” unrealistically imposed on them, especially when it puts their lives at increased risk. Most stay, but a great many do not. Military commands turn to alternatives, like targeted predator bombing instead of face-to-face killing. In both cases, of course, there is infrequent collateral damage (meaning of innocents or non-combatants), but predators are less personal so less protested by domestic liberals. Still, that alternative is less effective than on-the-ground eliminating or neutralizing foes and holding territory so that conditions can be created for more lasting civilian safety. Support for our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan declined for many reasons, including the difficulties and potential futility of accomplishing even modest lasting objectives with too few troops committed and backed to do what’s necessary. Other countries see and retreat from supporting the US or from taking a stand against encroaching threats, whether from Islamist radicals or from other anti-Western states. The world sees the Obama administration “incensed” at the UN removing explicit protection of gays from its official policy, and nowhere near this firmness in defense of US allies – or US troops -- who confront existential enemies. I have two young sons, and like many others have serious doubts whether they should choose to follow me into military service.
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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14:36
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Saturday, December 18. 2010Saturday linksThe US needs tort reform Brain Oddities: Spelling is Irrelevant to Comprehension Using Seinfeld to teach economics Maine Family Robinson: The Top 10 Steaming Heaps Of Eco-Friendly / Frugal Living Horse Dung Katrina: "The Louisiana governor froze." Death tax: The Roosevelts Would Be Appalled Only the terminally envious hate people who inherit money, farms, or shops. The truly rich can afford to avoid it all. Expensive lawyers make it happen. Also, people who buy gold to hand to their kids when they get old and sick. Lots of people do that. It's all about me: Obama reads his children's book to 2nd graders NPR and PBS -- This Time It's the Fight of Their Lives (h/t Vanderleun) I don't hate them. I just don't want to be forced to support them. They are government media. Coldest December Since Records Began But that's weather, not climate. Climate is determined by experts. More Faulty Research on the Mental-Health Effects of Abortion It's not about the health, it's about the morality The New Yorker revisits Mao Do the Obamas have that Mao ornament on their tree again this year? It Begins… Feds Force Small Town Bank to Remove Christian Symbols & Christmas Buttons Grinches are afraid of disgruntled Moslems 20 states ask judge to throw out Obama health law Krauthammer: Obama as comeback kid Very clever of the O to flip and now take credit for "tax cuts" Is Freedom what we really want? I think freedom is too scary for most people. The United Nations is considering whether to set up an inter-governmental working group to harmonise global efforts by policy makers to regulate the internet. Is there anything the UN does not aspire to control? Pic from Theo Friday, December 17. 2010Friday morning linksPic of frightening pedophile psycho creep came in Americans are more hopeful than envious Univ of California raises faculty retirement age from 50 to 55 That's not from The Onion The good life on 36 weeks a year of work Anderson at Am Thinker: Middle-Class Hypocrites NYT: Mao's Great Leap to Famine Central planning, for the Greater Good Google is too successful for the French DC feeding frenzy - Lame-duck Congress gorges Great news: California to adopt cap-and-trade Good timing - the mountains are getting 12 feet of snow this weekend Omnibus contains earmarks for Planned Parenthood and other abortion groups It still escapes me how this is a government function Head Start gets more $ too, even though proven to be useless. Useless - except in hiring thousands of unionized government babysitters D.C. elites pronounce Palin a "negative influence in national politics" Obama denounces Chabahar terror bombings, stands with Iran, which blames the U.S. anyway Makes the O look like a shlomozzle (sp?) Who said this?
Obama's polling isn't really that bad Dept. of Experts: Saccharine, after 35 years, is now OK Dept. of Experts: Fruits and vegetables don't effect cancer rates (h/t Englishman) Dept. of Experts: Advice to scientists:
Thursday, December 16. 2010Most pathetic law suit of the yearMom (with a Lefty non-profit behind her) sues MacDonalds over Happy Meals. It's obvious that parenthood is beyond her.
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"Party like it's 1773"Remember this summer when Palin was mocked by the MSM and the Lefties for that statement? On this day, in 1773:
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08:12
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Thursday morning linksPic via Surber. I can personally testify that they will confiscate your Bob Evans mustard too. Scruton: Multiculturalism, RIP Why the Brit students are acting like spoiled brats Malanga: States Slow to Face New Fiscal Reality Berkowitz: Obama & the Rhetoric of Progressivism Wednesday, December 15. 2010Why does the government want to control the internet?The intertubes seem to work just fine. I want no government hands stinking up my internet. I want it private. KERPEN: Silencing voices of Internet dissent.
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09:28
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Weds. morning linksAncient soup Weapons Migrate From China to Afghanistan Importing dogs for rescue: This Is Not Your Grandma's Humane Society David Limbaugh: Memo to Conservatives: Quit Apologizing for Capitalism DeMint: Let's Read the Omnibus Spending Bill Before Voting On It Re college, A Glimmer of Common Sense from the New York Tiimes Betsy McCaughey: Judge's Ruling Puts Obamacare in 'Legal Limbo' Gaza getting rich on foreign aid iSnitch phone network launched George Monbiot: It's God's Fault That It's So Cold When It's Actually Too Hot Proof climate is all about politics. There is a Climate Science Rapid Response Team:
Leaked document shows EPA allowed bee-toxic pesticide despite own scientists’ red flags (h/t Synthstuff) Michelle: Reid warns: We’ll stretch this lame-duck out until Jan. 5 if we have to; Update: Omnibus-a-palooza! Kudlow: Respectful and loving opposition to Krauthammer
Tuesday, December 14. 2010Those fierce bipartisan moderatesOur view tends to be that "bipartisans" and "moderates" are simply those who approve of slow socialism by mistaking goo-goo nursery school sentimentality for opinion and principles. Stacy McCain gets it: The Fierce Fury of the Angry Mob of Impassioned Bipartisan Moderates. He begins:
Posted by The Barrister
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16:19
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Chevy Volt adh/t, Moonbattery: Tuesday morning linksMuslim Suicide Bombers to go on Strike in Britain It's about time. Epstein: Obamacare is now on the ropes, legally. It's about the limits of the Commerce clause. He comments:
Showdown nears on release of NYC teacher ratings They grade students. Why not grade teachers? Oh, I see. It's about their ratings being published. They are our employees, so we should know how they're doing. Money and politics: The O may raise $1 billion The Boston Globe goes after SSI The reason the seriously physically disabled aren't applying for disability these days is because they are all working now. All Swedes are Jews now What's the difference between massive immigration and invasion? Reason: Why has the USDA been plumping up the food stamps program like a factory chicken? They won't rest until every citizen is feeding on government cheese from the public trough. WSJ: The Cancun crack-up Jay Cost: Don't underestimate the Pres How the O can win in 2012 FLOTUS on Deciding What Kids Eat: “We Can’t Just Leave It Up to the Parents” Let's all live according to Scientific Socialist principles. New Low in Support for Health Care Reform WaPo: Memo to the left: Hands off Obama "He's our only Hope." The guy says If Assange is convicted of rape, then we are all rapists now. (h/t Insty)
Monday, December 13. 2010Virginia, Severance & Section 1501A major question is, what are the effects of the Virginia federal district court ruling that the individual mandate within ObamaCare (officially titled PPACA) is unconstitutional? For now, and even if the Virginia ruling is eventually sustained by the US Supreme Court, the effects are relatively minor. The ruling took a conservative stance on severance, allowing the rest of the law to stand. The impact of the individual mandate on the other parts of the PPACA, although arguably substantial, is actually weak. However, revealed are, once again, several of the serious failings of the PPACA, which if implemented can mean far higher insurance premiums and, perhaps, the implosion of the private insurance industry – and individual choice -- in near the condition it is today. The Ruling: Section 1501 of PPACA mandates that individuals purchase medical insurance or face penalties via the IRS. The Va federal judge finds this goes well beyond any previous extension of the Constitution by requiring a behavior that otherwise wouldn’t occur, commenting that the possible extensions of federal power would then be endless. Two other federal district courts did find this constitutional. Other challenges are in process of first hearing, most notably the one in Florida federal district court brought by 20 states and expected to get a favorable ruling, as well as appeals of preliminary judgments elsewhere. The Virginia judge did not grant an injunction on the individual mandate, as he expects the Supreme Court to deal with it before it becomes effective. Severance: A severance clause in a law holds that if any part is found unlawful, the rest of the law will stand. This clause was removed from PPACA by its drafters. PPACA supporters and most lawyers didn’t think any of PPACA would be found unconstitutional. But, the Virginia judge took a conservative stance toward severance, “the time-honored rule to sever with circumspection…Accordingly, the Court will sever only Section 1501 and directly-dependent provisions which make specific reference to Section 1501.” A pdf search of PPACA finds no other such key provisions. The Obama administration argued that many other provisions of PPACA are seriously impacted but although implicit in the crafting of PPACA such language is not in PPACA. Continue reading "Virginia, Severance & Section 1501"
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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19:26
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Hating Sarah Palin for being normal and happySchwartz at Am. Thinker discusses. It's a funny piece. A quote:
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08:53
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A few morning linksScroll down and catch up on our posts over the past few days. Some meaty stuff there. Quite amusing: The 12 days of Winter QUO VADIS FIDEL? WHERE ARE YOU GOING? The Leftist World Council of Churches and the Jews:
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