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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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Thursday, June 24. 2010COIN, Shmoin. Obama Is The ProblemCOIN, the abbreviation for counterinsurgency operations, is hotly debated as applied in Those most blindly in favor on the Left think it a way to be nice and avoid many of the harshnesses of war. Others think it’s a way to make foes like us and avoid creating more foes. Those most angrily critical are either conservatives, experienced in war, or those whose lives are actually at risk on the front lines. They are all partly correct, that far. Where many go off the rails is in not understanding what COIN actually is, or in taking it to absurd or counter-productive excess, and in not confronting the quagmire of Obama and his chosen meddlers. Let’s re-visit the Continue reading "COIN, Shmoin. Obama Is The Problem"
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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21:58
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The Big Picture on housingFrom The Big Picture on the last few years:
Posted by Bird Dog
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19:41
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Political Quote of the DayFrom our News Junkie this morning: Dems say they need more of our money so they can give us more free shit we don't want. Hoyer on middle class tax hike ObamaCare Will (Further) Drive Up Auto Insurance PremiumsThe Insurance Research Council (IRC), of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, analyzed in Hospital Cost Shifting and Auto Injury Insurance Claims hospitals’ cost shifting from government medical programs onto auto insurance companies. Based on over 42,000 closed claims from 22 insurers representing 58% of the private passenger auto insurance market in the US, in the 38 states analyzed over $1.2 billion of costs were shifted in 2007 due to low reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid. That only covers part of the shifting in other states and from other medical coverages. Add on top of that the severe restrictions on medical care provider charges that are to be imposed by ObamaCare. "It will take months, if not years, to understand the full impact of the reforms on hospital cost shifting and the auto insurance system," said Elizabeth Sprinkel of the IRC. Pretty soon you’ll see the results in your auto insurance premiums, as ObamaCare drives us off the cliff.
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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13:32
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Nation-building in AfghanistanPetraeus or whoever. Is this our job? Even Alexander tried, and many have tried since. I thought it made some sense to go after an Al Qaida refuge, but building an orderly nation-state in Afghanistan? As they used to say, "You can't shine shit." We shined a light on Al Qaida and they scattered like cockroaches in a New York kitchen. But now what? Thursday morning links
Prager says this book is needed: When Good People Do Bad Things Men have a tougher time with break-ups than women do Schumpeter Creative Destruction 101 A century and a half after the first state seceded from the Union, a lively debate over what caused the Civil War continues. A brief history of populism in America, with reference to Tea Parties American Scholar: Understanding the concept of geologic time and some basic science can give a new perspective on climate change and the energy future
Re the EU:
India can become 3rd largest economy by 2012 The woman is begging to be borked Sudden Law School grade inflation Hennessey digs deep into Krugman's BS Wrong direction: New-home sales “collapse” in May Good luck with that:
They are postponing a budget until after the November elections, but Democrats' budget plan: Tax and spend more. Duh. Related: Dems say they need more of our money so they can give us more free shit we don't want. Hoyer on middle class tax hike Bolton on Cameron The US needs fewer education jobs. h/t Doug Ross George Will is tough here: Word Spill - Our Demosthenes is also Alibi Ike.
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06:15
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Wednesday, June 23. 2010Prepare For More Lawsuits Under ObamaCareLast April I wrote about the coming explosion of Qui Tam lawsuits against medical providers, due to relaxed standards for bringing such suits making it a happy hunting ground for litigators fishing for financial payoffs.
At this week’s Healthcare Financial Management Association the healthcare law expert warned of a coming “storm” of lawsuits and quipped, “You'll need to look around your organization and see who looks best in orange [prison clothing color] and pick that person.”
Wonder why litigation reform was excluded from ObamaCare and why tort attorneys eager to make money regardless of increased medical inflation and excess CYA tests are one of Democrats’ largest donor groups?
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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23:06
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Real Chance For Afghanistan?President Obama chose General Stanley McChrystal as commander in Now, McChrystal and staff let the cat out of the bag, that everyone watching knew already: President Obama, VP Joe Biden, National Security Council head Jim Jones, Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, Obama’s special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, have been actively undermining the war effort through timidity, illusions and interfering with McChrystal, the only proven warrior and COIN expert in the bunch and the only one respected by the Afghanis. General David Petraeus will now fill in, downgrading Petraeus from chief at CENTCOM with wider responsibilities for the tinderboxes in the Middle East and And, once again Obama has chosen his personal agenda and ego above military effectiveness. Obama just appointed a new Commandant for the Marine Corps, seemingly largely based on the appointee’s agreement with gays openly serving, over the true proven warrior in the missions faced, General James Mattis, who with Petraeus co-authored military COIN doctrine. General Mattis could have been chosen to replace McChrystal. But, he wasn’t. There’s no doubt that Petraeus will do an excellent job, but Mattis would also, and wouldn't have left a gaping hole at CENTCOM. However, Mattis is also known as a no nonsense commander, who is famous for saying in Iraq that Marines will kill if attacked (though the Left ignores that Mattis is also an advocate of “soft-power” COIN so that is less necessary). Straight talk is not to be had when Obama’s ignorant ideology and thin ego are exposed to challenge by straight talk. Petraeus is less likely to be as blunt to Obama and the At least three senior members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have it straight:
Indeed. One can hope against experience with Obama that this fracas will lead him to get more firmly behind the – at his insistence undermanned vs the military’s recommendation – troops, and make clear that there is no deadline on our commitment. The New York Times' headline, however, reports "Obama Says Afghan Policy Won't Change." Or, one can hope against experience that Obama will feel so boxed in and revealed by his own fecklessness, especially in expectation of the drubbing coming in November, that he will straighten up, himself and his ideological coterie who are undermining the Afghanis and Americans. I have a bridge to sell you if you believe that. Or, one can hope that even without a worthwhile Commander in Chief that General Petraeus can perform miracles. The lives of our troops, and of civilians here in the P.S.: Henry Kissinger says of Obama's course, "Neither the premise nor the deadline is realistic," in saying "America needs an Afghan strategy, not an alibi." Read it all. P.P.S.: As usual with Bing West, BINGO!
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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19:36
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Scam artistGuess who holds patent for carbon-trading plan- Disgraced Fannie Mae CEO set to cash in for millions:
In today's Enquirer
Al Gore sex attack. This is sad and pathetic, and I prefer to think that this is not his MO. Nobody is perfect. So, please let's not blame it on you-know-what.
Posted by The News Junkie
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09:40
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Weds. morning links
There is a climate black list A little history of "Arbeit macht Frei" Most millionaires are only millionaires for a year Ouch: The Law of Supply and Demand Strikes the Law Business Roger Simon: Does Barack Obama want to be president? We always thought he was running to be VP
Missouri: The Next Health Care Battle. These days, feels like the country is falling apart. Unemployment, Afghanistan, health care, a government war against Arizona, higher taxes on the way, etc. Brit nannies label cardiovascular disease "largely avoidable." Since when? Not your grandfather's Connecticut
Is Illinois the New California? Headline if Bush were still Pres: "General McChrystal Speaks Truth to Power" From VDH's Obama’s Straws And Our Tired Back:
Posted by The News Junkie
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06:37
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Tuesday, June 22. 2010Singalong with BobBob Dylan, The Neighborhood Bully, lyrics below Well, the neighborhood bully, he's just one man Continue reading "Singalong with Bob" How Many Obama-Pals Fit Under The Bus Before The Bus Falls Over?The old conundrum of how many angels fit on the head of a pin is now surpassed by how many Obama-Pals can be tossed under the bus before the bus falls over. There’s soon departing White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who has pissed off everybody and is entangled in the former Illinois governor’s corruption trial, and White House Director of the Office of Management and Budgets Peter Orszag, who has run up $trillions of deep debts with the “stimulus” and ObamaCare. Now, maybe to go is the Commanding General in Afghanistan Stanley McChrystal, who voted for Obama, agreed to Obama’s trimmed and late arriving mini-surge, imposed US life-threatening rules-of-engagement, and now exposes the crippling inanity of the Obama national security team meddlers. As Jackson Diehl writes at the Washington Post:
As is the other messes that Obama has created. It is getting crowded under the bus where Obama tries to hide his blunders. How long until the bus falls over? Senator John McCain says,
Fish stink from the head. That's for 2012. 2010 is for emptying Obama's smelly fish tank in Congress.
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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17:09
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Tuesday morning links
City Journal: An Independent Mind - Thomas Sowell’s prodigious intellect has long been at odds with intellectuals. Justice, Italian-style, and the punishment of the decisive Why does the American press love Castro? No more cocktail party in France. It offends the Moslems. Or might. Barnes: Running on Empty - The wheels come off the liberal juggernaut, but it’s still dangerous. Examiner: Spending will kill, not save, our recovery Rubio slipping in polls. Sad Kristol: Small People Rule! The establishment hasn’t been this discredited since the mid-1960s. Arizona law puts Democrats' seats in peril This guy likes Connecticut's Linda McMahon Fausta's news: Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean
Posted by The News Junkie
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06:25
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Monday, June 21. 2010The double standardFrom Howie Carr via Betsy: Criticizing Bush - the highest form of patriotism. Criticizing Obama - hate speech. Who caused Bush’s problems? - Bush. Who causes Obama’s problems? - Bush. Monday morning links
Kaplan: Saving France Is my testosterone too low? Reason: Ideas Having Sex - How prosperity and innovation exceeded the expectations of John Stuart Mill and Adam Smith Review of God's Brain
Ed Lasky likes Mike Pence. So do I. EJ Dionne: A guy who definitely would have been on England's side in the Revolution One guy golfs, one guy sails. What's the diff?
Posted by The News Junkie
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05:23
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Sunday, June 20. 2010A few Sunday morning links
Samuelson: Why Our Poverty Measure Misleads Ocean pH alarmism, easily debunked Via Q&O:
Was it a shakedown? Of course it was. Is this legal to do? NYC Going After Teen 'Sexting' -- In The Home Wouldn't an Arizona lawsuit be like suing yourself? All their law does is repeat federal law on a state basis. Lowry: The O turns out to be mortal Thompson on Egalitarian Superiority:
Some pigs are more equal than others. From Steyn:
Father's Day image on top courtesy of Theo Image below of the O worrying about the oil leak, via Jammie (the point is not that the guy likes golf. Lots of people like golf - most cannot afford to be delivered to the course via helicopter, however. The point is the double standard. What if Bush...): Saturday, June 19. 2010This has got to hurt
A quote:
Another:
Shucks, who knew? I thought the real world was a college bull session. Saturday morning linksAdvice on tipping Dead Moslem women. Who cares? Miniature Toy Soldiers Ruled Violation Of RI School District's Weapons Ban If you care: Alan Dershowitz Finally Endorses a Republican Always confuses me when Lefties like Krugman refer to tax cuts as "costs". Obama Admin. Argues in Court That Individual Mandate Is a Tax The Moocher Index, state by state The case for government's lying about the economy North Korea to permit private markets Obama urges G20 to keep up spending or endanger recovery Noonan: A Snakebit Pres Poll: Obama Endorsement Poison for Candidates What is it about a strong conservative woman that so frightens liberals? Americans don't like the dog food Friday, June 18. 2010Moslems in Murfreesboro
Who'd a thunk it? Tough Moslems, too. Everybody is afraid of them, even in a place like Tennessee, the home of Davy Crockett.
Friday morning links
Yesterday was Bunker Hill Day PJ O'Rourke on public schools: End them, Don't Mend Them. A quote:
I believe that the $ should follow the kid to wherever the family wants. Vitter: Obama Exploiting Oil Spill to Push Liberal Agenda Krauthammer: The O is Dreamer in Chief Soccer is a Capitalist Tool
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05:24
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Thursday, June 17. 2010Explains a lot about what's going onThursday morning links
From Shiver at Pajamas:
Is he? I did think this quote from his speech was strange, when he spoke of "our determination to fight for the America we want for our children ... even if we're unsure exactly what that looks like." More detail from that IPCC insider:
Powerline: The O's long nose IRANIAN AND HEZHOLLAH FLOTILLAS ARE SAILING There is plenty of oil around The BP Oil Disaster: Big Government’s Dream Come True $5m prize for good governance goes unclaimed again in Africa Feds move to grab power over state governent unions Did you wonder, as I did, who Mead was and what he does?
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05:45
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Wednesday, June 16. 2010Child LaborThe US Labor Department is going after employers of children age 13 and under.
I started working at age 5, sweeping the sidewalks in front of stores, dusting stock, shoveling snow, and the myriad of other jobs I could find in the neighborhood. Twenty-five cents for an afternoon’s work was big bucks to a poor slum kid. More important, I learned work habits. Friends raised in rural areas worked in the fields at age 5. They learned work habits. We all feel better off today for the learning. No one is in favor of putting kids in sweat-shops for 16-hour days, or such, as my grandparents were in the early 1900s. But, next time you hear anyone complaining that kids don’t have work habits, or don’t value the money they have or the comforts, thank the types who feel that childhood and adolescence should be a skate or so protected as to deny kids and teens the opportunities to become adults with better work habits and self-responsibility.
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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18:54
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The Dems and oilFrom Gateway:
We have the Chinese drilling off our southern coast, and Brazil is drilling everywhere they can. I think the Dems have an aversion to American oil.
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