...It's time for Americans to moveoff their duffs and demand better government...^sm



Latest Analysis, Commentary and Opinion*
(The title of each article is linked to the complete article)

Friday, November 20, 2009

We Don’t Like to Stock That, It Sells Too Well
  Socialism piece by Guest: Michael R. Shannon (11/20/09)

I imagine the Postmaster General grinds his teeth when he thinks about how much easier his life would be, if he had a monopoly like the “public” schools. If customers were forced to buy the equivalent postage before they were allowed to ship FEDEX or UPS his competition worries would be over.

D.C. sued for blocking vote on marriage
  Police State piece by Offsite (11/20/09)

A lawsuit has been filed in Washington, D.C., challenging a decision by the city’s Board of Elections and Ethics not to allow citizens to vote on the definition of marriage, as had been proposed by an initiative.

‘Hacked e-mails reveal global-warming fraud?‘
  Global Warming piece by Offsite (11/20/09)

Top climate scientists discuss hiding contrary data, marginalizing dissenters - Officials at a key global warming research center in the United Kingdom have authenticated a series of e-mails and other documents apparently taken from their computer system by a hacker, but they cannot explain what scientists in internal exchanges meant by references to a “trick” that would “hide the decline” of global temperatures nor by instructions to delete contrary data.

Civilian Trials Provide Soapboxes for Terrorists
  Terrorism piece by J. D. Longstreet (11/20/09)

So now we are going to try the terrorists in civilian federal trials in New York City, just blocks away from the site of the former World Trade Center Twin Towers, where 3,000 innocents were murdered. Can you possible see how this move by the Obama Regime makes the US appear weak, indecisive, and just plain DUMB to our enemies?

DDT: The Silent Killer…Only When It Was Gone
  Junk Science piece by Kevin Roeten (11/20/09)

Because mosquitoes were almost nonexistent with the use of DDT in places like Africa, elimination of DDT brought mosquitoes back - in force. The 1972 ban of DDT in the U.S. did not help matters at all. Now, many less effective and more costly methods are used - netting, other chemicals, you name it. But from the “Malaria Clock” listed in the following paragraphs, one gets an idea of exactly how many deaths have occured, especially from malaria.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Wimpy Obama Is No Longer Credible!
   ObamaNation piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (11/4/09)

Unfortunately it is true here and around the world.

U.S. Chamber Caves to Special Interests on Energy-Rationing Legislation
   Energy piece by Press Release: Christine Hall (11/4/09)

CEI Invites Small Businesses to Join With CEI to Fight Kerry-Graham - Washington, D.C., November 4, 2009 - The Competitive Enterprise Institute responded today to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s announcement that it will now support energy-rationing legislation by calling on small businesses to drop their Chamber membership and join CEI in fighting this catastrophic legislation.

Jerusalem’s Delicate Balancing Act
   Middle East piece by Guest: Rusty Wright (11/4/09)

JERUSALEM - It’s easy to see why this city is the focus of so much world attention.

An Open Letter To The Republican Congressional Campaign Committee
   Republicrats piece by Guest: C.E. Cole (11/4/09)

I waited until today to write you in response to your recent request for contributions as I wanted to see just how the special congressional election in New York’s 23rd District would play out.  Unfortunately, it tuned out even worse than I had expected.

What really caused the Great Depression
   Economics piece by Offsite (11/4/09)

Steve H. Hanke is a professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and senior fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., and writes frequently for Globe Asia and Forbes magazine. Professor Hanke starts off his “Hu versus Sarkozy” article (Globe Asia, November 2009) with a warning. There is no more reliable rule than the 95 percent rule: 95 percent of what you read about economics and finance is either wrong or irrelevant. The article contrasts the Chinese versus the French responses to the financial crisis, but the major focus is on economic myths.

Christians to take ‘hate crimes’ challenge to Holder
   Police State piece by Offsite (11/4/09)

A rally is being planned in Washington to raise the alarm over the nation’s new “hate crimes” law and to force Attorney General Eric Holder to confront the unconstitutionality of the measure’s “thought” penalties, according to a Christian leader working on the event.

If they feel ‘offended,‘ you’re fired
   Police State piece by Offsite (11/4/09)

A college professor in Georgia is whirling in confusion right now, reprimanded and apparently threatened with termination without any specific charges, hearings or evidence of wrongdoing - only the school administration’s allegation that he “offended” someone.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Hi-Fidelity Loudspeakers
   Entertainment piece by Editor (11/3/09)

Back in the pre-historic 1970’s I was blessed with working under and with George W. Sioles at Design Acoustics.

The ‘costs’ of medical care
   Health Care piece by Offsite (11/3/09)

We are incessantly being told that the cost of medical care is “too high” -  either absolutely or as a growing percentage of our incomes. But nothing that is being proposed by the government is likely to lower those costs, and much that is being proposed is almost certain to increase the costs.

Capitol to be filled with livid Americans
   The Republic piece by Offsite (11/3/09)

Lawmakers are calling on Americans to storm the Capitol on Thursday in an “Emergency House Call on Congress” to stop the House from passing the Democrats’ health-care bill this week.

S&P 500 Will Drop 60 Percent
   Economics piece by Offsite (11/3/09)

David Tice, the famous stock bear at Federated Investors, predicts that the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index will drop more than 60 percent - to 400.

Cash for Clunkers Was A Huge Waste
   Economics piece by Offsite (11/3/09)

Cash for Clunkers clearly distorted the U.S. economic figures in an unsustainable way, according to The Business Insider, which cites a report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis that indicates GDP growth in the third quarter would have been 1.89 percent, not 3.5 percent as claimed, without government money.

Arizona bureaucrats spin spooky budget tales
   Government piece by GoldwaterInstitute: Byron Schlomach (11/3/09)

Timed perfectly for Halloween, Governor Brewer asked state agencies for proposals to reduce spending 15 percent in order to close the state’s $2 billion budget deficit. The results have been predictably spooky scenarios painted by each agency.

A Pundit Looks at 40
   Society piece by Thomas Lindaman (11/3/09)

By the time some of you read this, I will have turned 40. And you haven’t even called or written to wish me a Happy Birthday? Some friends you are! Seriously, though, this momentous milestone has given me an opportunity to look back at what I’ve seen over the past four decades. And let me tell ya, it’s been a pretty fun ride so far.

Monday, November 2, 2009

20 Year Old Girl Dies From Being Run Over By Father
   Islam piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (11/2/09)

‘Westernized’ Daughter Run Over By Iraqi Father Dies - Police say Faleh Almalechi ran over his 20-year-old daughter, Noor Faleh Almaleki.

Opera 10.01 Much Improved!
   Internet piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (11/2/09)

The 10.01 release of Opera seems to fix a host of issues experienced in 10.00.

Matt Barber’s First Book - The Right Hook: From The Ring To The Culture War
   Reading piece by Press Release: Matt Barber (11/2/09)

“The Right Hook” delivers a knockout already and it’s not even on store shelves yet…“ - The Right Hook: From The Ring To The Culture War is a selection of Matt Barber’s greatest hits: incisive and deeply thoughtful culture war commentaries he’s penned over the past few years(1). And, as an added bonus, the book also recounts the fascinating series of events that launched Matt as one of America’s rising conservative stars after he got dismissed from a fortune 100 company for simply writing a letter to the editor for a conservative publication.

The Founders Had a Tipping Point
   The Republic piece by Jayme Evans (11/2/09)

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security” - The Declaration of Independence

The Moral Argument For God
   Religion piece by Frederick Meekins (11/2/09)

The early 21st century stands as a period of profound moral confusion.  On the one hand, mothers and doctors are permitted to crack open the skulls and suck out the brains of nearly-born babies with government sanction under the banner of partial birth abortion.  Should these very same people hike into the woods and crack open a bald eagle egg, they could face serious prison time.

Democrat Leader Convicted of Fraud
   Crime piece by Jim Kouri (11/2/09)

In yet another case of political misconduct in New Jersey, a federal jury convicted former Bergen County Democratic Organization chairman Joseph Ferriero of conspiracy and mail fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud Bergenfield of the honest services of its borough attorney Dennis Oury, according to a report obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police’s Fraud & White Collar Crime Committee.

Sanctity of Criminals’ Lives
   Progressivism piece by Thomas E. Brewton (11/2/09)

Some groups like the ACLU, who advocate abolition of the death penalty for murder or rape, enthusiastically endorse murder by abortion.

CBO:  ObamaCare will Cover Only 2% of US Citizens
   Health Care piece by Sher Zieve (11/2/09)

You may have missed it, as the Obama State-run media sycophants have worked feverishly to suppress it.  One of a handful of media outlets that did publish anything on it (AP) devoted only one paragraph to this extremely important piece of news.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

‘What’s the Real Cost of Global Warming Taxes?‘
   Global Warming piece by Guest: Dennis T. Avery (11/1/09)

CHURCHVILLE, VA - The leftish Brookings Institution and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce basically agree that the energy taxes in the House Waxman-Markey bill could total $9 trillion over ten years. As an economist, I look at these forecasts and wonder “How can we possibly know?“

Make The RINOs Choose Sides
   Republicrats piece by J.J. Jackson (11/1/09)

The Republican Party has been infested with RINOs - Republicans In Name Only - for more years than most can count.  No one can remember when the first RINO appeared but we know what has happened since that first appearance and seen the decay that they have brought to the party.  Year after year these RINOs stand for reelection around this great country telling us how only by being RINOs do they stand a chance of winning that reelection bid and keep their seat from falling into the hands of far, far worse sorts.  They tell conservatives as conservatives they far are too fringe and claim that conservatives need the RINO to get a seat at the bargaining table.  Year after year RINOs among the voting populace parrot these same claims in support of their “moderate” candidate of choice.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Getting ready for the Islamic bomb
   Middle East piece by Offsite (10/31/09)

The White House believes there is an Islamic bomb in your future. Associated Press reported Tuesday that the Obama administration is “quietly laying the groundwork for long-range strategy that could be used to contain a nuclear-equipped Iran and deter its leaders from using atomic weapons.“ Granted this could be routine contingency planning, but it’s believable that President Obama is pursuing an acquiescent policy given his foundering efforts to dissuade Iran from developing a nuclear capability.

Food Prices Will Soar
   Food piece by Offsite (10/31/09)

British financial journalist Ambrose Evans-Pritchard says that food will never be so cheap again, and biofuels are to blame.

Every Day is Groundhog Day in the Middle East
   Middle East piece by Alan Caruba (10/31/09)

In the movie, “Groundhog Day”, the main character wakes up day after day, trapped in the same events, desperately looking for a way out of that living nightmare. It’s a very good metaphor for the Middle East.

The VA - More Good Care and Bumbling Bureaucracy
   Veterans piece by Thomas D. Segel (10/31/09)

Harlingen, Texas, October 31, 2009:  The ink had not even dried on our latest commentary about VA care and operations before another flood of email from across the country hit our computer. Veterans had a lot more to say.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Premiums to Skyrocket Under Obamacare
   Health Care piece by Offsite (10/30/09)

Skyrocketing insurance premiums will slam millions of consumers next year because of “indirect taxes” contained in both the House and Senate versions of healthcare reform, according to various medical and insurance industry experts.

From Hallow to Hollow, The Scariest of Figures
   Economics piece by FreeCongressFoundation: Marion Edwyn Harrison (10/30/09)

In Queen’s English All Hallows Eve, in American English Halloween, is almost upon us.  Hallow is the older English word for soul.  Thus, we have the Eve of All Hallows Day, Americanized and “modernized” into Halloween.  The noun hallow is only one letter off the noun hollow, which can mean empty or devoid of substance.  Are the stimulus spooks about to scare us upon this occasion?  Will future generations be snared as “the hollow men[?]” Read on.  The unprecedented spending of taxpayers’ money by the incumbent Administration and 111th Congress is sufficient to spook anybody.