The Most Trusted Name in News

How does this happen?  The most eagerly awaited Supreme Court decision since Gore v. Bush, and you get it wrong?  Not predict it wrong, but actually report the wrong result?

If CNN had any shame, they'd drop that slogan.  But they don't, so they won't.CNN News Staffers Revolt Over Blown Coverage

Exactly Right

If the Republicans get control of the White House and both houses of Congress (far from a sure thing, but also far from impossible), they had darned well better repeal ObamaCare.  If they don't, it will be the end of the Republican establishment, if not the end of the Republican party.  Conservatives don't trust them very much as it is.  A betrayal like that would very likely be the last straw.

Dear GOP: You Get One More Chance

Seventeen

That's the number of Democrats in the House who voted to charge Eric Holder with contempt.  Remember that number when people try to tell you this is all just a partisan political battle.  It won't change their minds, of course--they won't even acknowledge what you've said--but at least you'll know the truth.Boom: House 

Votes to Hold AG Eric Holder in Contempt

Are There Any Left?

Seriously.  We've heard about so many of these "green" companies, into which President Obama pumped our money, going bankrupt that I have to think there can't be very many left.  Which is good news for the President, because it means there won't be very many more of these stories.

Abound Solar to Suspend Operations, Will Seek Bankruptcy

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Life goes on.  It's not the Supreme Court ruling I wanted, but it's the Supreme Court ruling we got.  It means ObamaCare needs to be overturned legislatively, which means the election is even more important.

At this point, there's nothing I can say about this that you won't hear from a hundred other people.  Maybe something will occur to me later, or maybe not.

Live Blog of Opinions and Orders

Unfortunately, They're Right

We know President Obama has no plan for the economy.  Mitt Romney may have one, but if so, he's not making a point of it, other than in broad generalities.  As a plan for winning, that may be wise (although it sure didn't hurt Ronald Reagan to have a specific plan).  As a plan for governing, though, not so much.  To honestly claim a mandate for what you want to do, people need to know about it when they vote for you.

Fox News Poll: Voters Say Neither Candidate Has Plan for Economy

A Little Bit Pregnant

That's must be what it's like to get a little bit of the Keystone pipeline approved.  Unless all of it is approved, it really doesn't do anyone any good.  It does let President Obama look like he's examining each part of the proposal ever so carefully, though.

U. S. Grants a Keystone Pipeline Permit

More Tolerance from the Left

I was going to link to the original article, but I just couldn't.  There's a link within this article, if you choose to go there, but I'd recommend that you don't.  Just remember, to liberals, people in certain groups are only allowed to think one way.

Interview: Jimmy LaSalvia On GOProud Endorsement of Mitt

The Answer Is No

It seems rather obvious.  Why in the world would life on other planets "shatter" people's religious beliefs?  There's nothing in the Bible that says God could not have created life on other planets.  There's nothing in the Bible that says God could not offer salvation to life on other planets.  This seems so obvious that, now, I'm wondering why I'm still going to link to this.  But I guess I am, anyway.

Would Finding Aliens Shatter Religious Beliefs?

Speculation

No one has any idea what the Supreme Court is going to do on ObamaCare.  As per usual, however, this does not seem to keep anyone from talking about what the Supreme Court is going to do on ObamaCare.  Just remember that everything you hear is idle speculation.  Don't get too high or too low based on anything you're hearing right now.  We'll know on Thursday.

What I hope, though, is that Mitt Romney and other Republicans are ready for whatever the Court might do.  They've had plenty of time to prepare.  They'd better make sure they get it right.

Tribe: John Roberts. "Student of Mine", Will Uphold Obamacare

It May Be Worse Than I Thought

All my life, political conventions have lasted four days.  Now, the Democrats are cutting back to three to save money?  Wow.  The Romney landslide may be bigger than I expected.

This may seem like a small thing, but I assure you it's not.  This is a Big Deal.  The last thing the Democrats want to do is make their convention smaller.  If they had an alternative, they'd take it.  They apparently don't.

Facing a Major Deficit, Democrats Are Scaling Back on Their Convention Festivities

Strangers to the Truth

Apparently, the people in the Obama Administration are so used to lying that they do it even when it doesn't matter.  That's the only reason I can think of for Jay Carney's insistence that people in Boston did not boo the President, but were saying "Youk".  I mean, even President Obama himself recognized it as booing, and did not seem bothered by it.  When you're a liar, though, I guess you lie automatically.  And so, a non-story takes life.

Carney: Boston Donors Weren't Booing Obama, They Were Saying "Yooook"

News Flash: Appeasement Still Doesn't Work

It never has.  You betray your friends, and your enemies are never satisfied.

Komen's Numbers Are Down Going Into Saturday's Race for the Cure

Don't Run Away

I've said it before, but I'll say it again.  Don't pick a fight unless you're willing to do whatever it takes to win the fight.  Maybe the Republicans will, but trying to hide the vote isn't a good sign.  And while I'd like to believe it's just a coincidence, politicians don't do things like this out of coincidence.

Report: House Contempt Vote on Holder Scheduled for, er...Thursday

A One-Way Street

The president has no interest in working with Republicans, at least as we would normally understand the term.  When you work with someone, you need to take their opinions into account, try find common ground, and compromise.  When President Obama says he wants to work with Republicans, he means he wants them to shut up and go along with him.  He doesn't want to work with Republicans.  He wants to defeat Republicans.

Which is not inherently wrong.  I just wish someone on either side (other than Rush Limbaugh) would stand up and admit it, rather than giving us all this blather about bipartisanship and working together.

Axelrod: Obama Win Will "Liberate" Republicans to Work With President

I Could Be Wrong

But it's my impression that it was mostly people on the left who told us that Maurice Sendak was a giant in the field of children's literature.  The same people on the left who always preach to the rest of us about the importance of civility and tolerance.

Maurice Sendak Fantasized About Killing Bush, Cheney, and Their Wives in a Suicide Bombing

You Don't Start in the Big Leagues

This is not a shot at Mike Huckabee, who seems like a good guy.  But he's never done a radio talk show before.  Yes, he's done TV, but that's different.  Why would you start off going head-to-head with the all-time, number one radio talk show king?  That's like a kid going from high school to facing C. C. Sabathia.  It's not likely to work very well.

Stuck Huck

Broken Record

I've said this before, but I'm going to keep saying it.  Fast and Furious isn't going to matter.  It should, but it won't.  The media has kept it covered up as long as possible.  Now, if they're forced to report on it, they'll report on it as a partisan political fight, and the public will yawn.  The facts won't matter.

David Brooks: Obama's Use of Executive Privilege "Politically Stupid" "A Winner" For the GOP

Don't Get Too Excited

Yes, it's fun to see Jon Stewart criticizing President Obama, but don't be fooled.  When the election rolls around, and President Obama needs Jon Stewart, Stewart will be there for him.

Friday Fun: Jon Stewart Shreds Obama on Executive Privilege Claim

Downhill

In the beginning, Aaron Sorkin created Sports Night, and it was good.  Then, Sorkin decided he was an Important Writer with Something to Say.  And everything he's created has gotten progressively worse since.

It is really hard to write a "message" show without beating people over the head with your message.  Even M*A*S*H was a lot better when it focused on telling a story and let the anti-war message play in the background.  The episodes in which the anti-war message was front and center were, by and large, the worst episodes of the show.

Newsmen Agree: New HBO Series "Newsroom" Stinks

Narrow-Minded Religious Bigotry

We're always told that it comes from the right.  Another lie.  The right is just fine with the idea of a Mormon as president.  The left, on the other hand, not so much.

Note that this is not a question about Mitt Romney.  It's entirely legitimate to say, "I'm fine with a Mormon being president, but not that one."  However, that's not what the respondents to this question were saying.  Nearly a quarter of Democrats said they would not vote for any Mormon, and based that statement on nothing but that.

Incidentally, the headline is incredibly misleading.

Bias Against Mormon Presidential Candidate Same as in 1967

Breaking News

At least, this is the first time I heard about it.  I've been incredibly busy lately, and haven't paid as much attention to the news as I normally do, but still.  The resignation of a cabinet secretary should have been bigger news than this, don't you think?

Statements on John Bryson's Resignation

Place-Holder

Eric Holder's resignation would accomplish nothing.  He shouldn't be attorney general, but he's there because President Obama wants him there, and he's doing what President Obama wants him to do.  The thing to do is focus on President Obama, not Eric Holder.

Marco Rubio Calls for Eric Holder to Resign

Why Would They Do That?

So, apparently, we're supposed to believe that none of the New Orleans Saints players did anything wrong, that they're the victims of some sort of vendetta by the NFL, that there's some sort of conspiracy to try to "get" the Saints even though they're entirely innocent of everything.

Here's a question:  Why would the NFL do that?  What would it have to gain by doing it?  How does it make the NFL look better?

I'm actually quite pleased with Roger Goodell on this.  The natural temptation, when all this started coming out, would've been to sweep it under the rug.  He had a lot of people advising him to do exactly that.  A lot of people are still saying that's what he should've done.  Instead, he met the problem head on and did something about it.  He should be congratulated, not treated like he's the one who did something wrong.

Former Saints Defensive Lineman Anthony Hargrove Says NFL "Got Their Evidence All Wrong"

Obama Is Protecting Bush?

If Sheila Jackson Lee was right, that'd be the only reasonable conclusion.  If, in fact, Fast and Furious started under President Bush, then the only reason to invoke executive privilege would be to protect him.  Darn nice of President Obama to do that.

Of course, saying "if Sheila Jackson Lee was right" is similar to saying "if the sun rose in the west."

Sheila Jackson Lee Blames Bush Admin for Fast and Furious, Supports Holder Because of Patent Law or Something

I Called This One

A while ago, I told you that Fast and Furious would never be a big deal.  Not because it shouldn't be, but because the mainstream media will never report it that way.  They've tried to bury it entirely, but when they do report it, it'll be just another Republicans v. Democrats deal, a sign of the problems with partisan politics. The actual facts of the case won't matter.

Sure enough.

Brian Williams: If You're Not Following the Complexities of Fast and Furious, It Looks Like Just More of our Broken Politics

Of Course You Could Have

Really, this is just despicable.  Pelosi throws out an accusation of law-breaking.  Not only does she provide no evidence to support the accusation, she never even says, exactly, what it is that was done to break the law.  We're supposed to believe that she could've had Karl Rove arrested, but she didn't just because she's so nice?

"And all the federales say
They could have had him any day
They only let him get away
Out of kindness, I suppose."


Nancy Pelosi Slams Contempt Vote: "I Could Have Arrested Karl Rove...But We Didn't" 

I Don't Know and I Won't Tell You

If, as the Attorney General claims, neither he nor anyone in his office knew anything about Fast and Furious, why in the world would he and the President be so determined to hide all these documents?

Obama Invokes Executive Privilege Over DOJ Documents

Good For Him

Republicans waste too much time going to hostile media programs where they won't get a fair chance.  The arguments for it are that they need to reach people who don't agree with them and that the media is still the only game in town.  That used to be true, but no more.  People who don't agree with them aren't going to be swayed by seeing them slammed by slanted coverage, and there are plenty of other ways to get the message out these days.

In fact, I'd like to see Brown go farther and refuse to be part of the debate unless the Kennedys are out of it entirely.  I wouldn't accept Tom Brokaw as a neutral moderator, either.  On the other hand, it is Massachusetts.

Scott Brown Accepts Kenendy Debate with Conditions

Picking Losers

I forget who said it, but it's true.  It's not accurate to say that, in a government-controlled economy, the government picks winners and losers.  The government picks losers.  If a company is a winner, it doesn't need the government's help.

Unfortunately, the Obama Administration has wasted billions of our dollars on losers.

Electric Car Battery Company Hits Road Bumps

They'll Stop at Nothing

It's going to get a lot worse than this, folks.  Paying people to heckle Mitt Romney is mild compared to what's coming.  These people see they're power slipping away.  When people to whom power is everything see it slipping away, especially when those people feel entitled to that power, they'll do anything to keep it.

Anti-Romney Protesters Say They're Paid to Heckle

I'll Believe It When I See It (Part 3)

The unions may well be unhappy with President Obama, but they're not going anywhere.  What are they going to do, start supporting Republicans?  They may given the President less support for a while, but they'll be there for him when election day comes.

Video: Dems, Unions to Divorce?

A One-Way Street

When Republicans use harsh rhetoric against Democrats, it's because Republicans are hate-filled and inciting violence.  When Democrats use harsh rhetoric against Republicans, it's also because Republicans are hate-filled and inciting violence.  Democrats never, ever hate anyone, and never, ever incite violence.  Democrats are just correct.

Democrats Rip GOP Energy Package

Barack Carter

Many have pointed out the parallels between the Obama presidency and the Carter presidency.  This one, though, stands out for, once again, the arrogance of President Obama and his supporters.  Their reasoning is that if we can't do this, as brilliant as we are, then it simply must be impossible.

Unfortunately, this time I'm not sure we have a Ronald Reagan to come along and show them how it's done.

Can Any President Succeed in Today's Political World?

So?

Republicans have been fulsomely fulminating about President Obama's change in immigration policy ever since it was announced last week.  Here's my question:  What are you going to do about it?  The answer appears to be nothing.  Republicans are scared out of their minds that they might lose the Latino vote.  So, they're going to make all kinds of speeches about how outrageously outrageous the President's policy is, but they're not going to, as they say, lift a finger to do anything about it.  Which, one assumes, President Obama knew when he announced the policy change.

GOP Blasts Obama on House Floor for "Imperial" Immigration Decision

What Else Can He Say?

Of course, the Obama Administrations decision about immigration was political.  Everything this administration does is political (which doesn't exactly make it unique, by the way).  But they can't come out and say that, for obvious reasons.

Plouffe: Oh, No, the Immigration Announcement Wasn't Political

It's a Little Late Now

It doesn't matter that now the Catholic Health Association has come out against the HHS mandate.  What might have mattered is if it had opposed ObamaCare.  It didn't, and ObamaCare passed.  The administration has no reason to care what the CHA says now.  The only thing it can do, if it so chooses, is to work for Mitt Romney, and hope Romney will overturn the mandate.

Trust but verify.  The CHA trusted, but didn't verify.  Now it's reaping the results of that.  Unfortunately, the rest of us are, too.

Catholic Hospitals Say Obama Compromise on Birth Control for Women Employees is Unworkable

Like Father, Like Son

Or, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  It's good to know Joe Biden's son is going to provide us with as much unintentional humor as his father has over the years.

Beau Biden Takes Shot at Mitt Romney, Hits Gov. Bev Perdue

Could He Believe It?

When President Obama says things like "the Republicans haven't lifted a finger" to provide jobs, conservatives usually think he says it because he's a shameless liar.  He may be a shameless liar, but I wonder if he actually believes this one.  After all, in President Obama's mind, "doing something" means, creating a big, new, expensive government program.  Since the Republicans don't want to do that right now, in his mind, that may mean they don't want to do anything.  It's not true, of course--the House has passed all kinds of legislation that the Democrat Senate refuses to even consider--but he may actually believe it.

Obama: Washington 'Stalemate' Blocking Jobs Growth Measures

Discretion

Quite apart from the merits of this decision, there's another issue involved.  It's dangerous to have laws on the books that you don't intend to enforce, because it leads to selective prosecution.  In other words, you break the law every day, and no one cares--until you do something that ticks off the powers that be.  Then, all of a sudden, you're charged with breaking a dozen laws you may not have even known existed.

If the law is bad, change the law.  Don't just ignore it.

Secretary Napolitano Announces Deferred Action Process for Young People Who Are Low Enforcement Priorities

Well, It's an Idea

Look, I love Bill James.  I've been reading his stuff since the early 1980s.  However, I would remind him of something he himself once wrote.  I'm paraphrasing, but he wrote that you could put together a tremendous series of books on the theme of really stupid things said by really smart people when they got away from their field of expertise.

Moneyball Godfather Bill James Tackles Politics in Super PAC Age

What's Your Solution?

I'm not linking this for the article itself so much as to raise the issue of ObamaCare.  Suppose the Supreme Court overturns it.  One of the responses from the Democrats is going to be "Okay, our solution was unconstitutional, but at least we tried.  At least we care.  What's your solution?"

There are good answers to that question.  The point is that Mitt Romney and the Republicans in Congress had better have one ready.

Up, Up, and Away

Because "We" Wouldn't Abuse It

It's okay for the President to require ID, because he'd never do so in a discriminatory way.  Who do you think he is, one of those evil Republicans who hates women, minorities, and the poor?

Obama Campaign Checks IDs at the Door

This Is News?

I mean, what else are they going to say?  "We really don't have a chance this fall.  I don't know why we're even bothering to field candidates.  We might as well just go fishing for the next five months."

This is not a criticism of the Democrats.  In politics, you have to express optimism, whether you feel it or not.

SD Democrats Optimistic About Upcoming Fall Election

Democracy in Egypt

That whole "Arab Spring" deal is so 2011.

Blot to Transition as Court Dissolves Egypt's Parliament

Irrelevant

At some point, people stop asking whether you're the problem, and instead ask whether you're the solution.  This would matter if Obama was running against George W. Bush.  His problem is that, no matter how much he tries to make people think he is, he's not.

Americans Still Blame Bush More Than Obama for Bad Economy

Bullying

I'm no great fan of Jim Rome, but there was nothing illegitimate about his question.  I don't think for a minute that the NBA rigs the draft lottery, but a lot of people do.  There was nothing wrong with giving the commissioner a chance to respond to that.

Rather than respond, however, David Stern chose to try to bully Rome, and all future interviewers, into not asking him the question.  He may well succeed at that.  However, that won't make the issue go away.  It would be in Stern's interest, and in the NBA's interest, to meet the issue head-on, rather than run from it.

David Stern Asked Jim Rome "Have You Stopped Beating Your Wife Yet" as Today's Interview Turned Ugly

The Rules Are the Same

There is nothing in the scoring rules that says "it is an error when you fail to make a play using ordinary effort, except if the pitcher would otherwise get a no-hitter, in which you case you score an error if they player could conceivably have gotten an out had he made a spectacular play that would've been shown on ESPN every night for the next six weeks."  A hit is a hit and an error is an error, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it.

NY Mets Manager Terry Collins Says Team Will Appeal to MLB, Try to Get R. A. Dickey a No-hitter

All the News That Fits Our Spin

This, in a nutshell, is why Fast and Furious won't be a big deal, ever.  No matter what happens, the mainstream media simply will not report it.  Despite the inroads made, the mainstream media still has tremendous influence.  It won't be a big story until they say it's a big story, which they never will.

NBC News Devotes Mere Seconds to First-ever Mention of Fast and Furious

The Arbiters of Bias

See, bias is not always wrong.  It's only wrong to be biased against certain people.  It's perfectly okay to be biased against other people.  And only the left can tell you which people it's okay to be biased against.  If you don't understand that, well, it's because you're biased.

Study: Liberal Anti-Mormonism on the Rise

Arrogance

This piece is dead on, but it doesn't get into why they do this.  The reason, simply, is arrogance.  President Obama and his cheering section simply cannot believe that they are capable of error.  Thus, when things don't go the way they want them to, it has to be someone else's fault.  When the public doesn't like what they've done, the public is either stupid or misinformed.  They honestly believe that they cannot make mistakes, and that no rational person could disagree with them on anything.

The Left Starts Rationalizing Obama's Failures

Movement v. Establishment

See, there are movement conservatives and there are establishment conservatives.  Movement conservatives are interested in getting power to change things.  Establishment conservatives are interested in getting power to control things.  If you pay attention, it's not that hard to tell which is which.

One clue:  establishment conservatives tend to be in favor of "bipartisanship".  Which, of course, means going along with your opponents and not changing much of anything.

Jeb Bush: Reagan Wouldn't Fit in Today's GOP

One final thought:  Who is it that supported Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech at the time, and are celebrating the anniversary of it now?  Establishment conservatives or movement conservatives?

"Everyone Knows"

That's such an easy way to defend your position.  You don't have to provide proof.  You don't even have to provide evidence.  You just make the assertion.  Anyone who disagrees is therefore an idiot, because they're arguing against something that "everyone knows" is true.

Life can be so simple when you don't worry about proof or facts.

Holder: Everyone Knows In-person Voting Fraud is Uncommon

Nobody's Listening

At least, that's what I suspect.  We've heard President Obama blame President Bush, blame the Republicans, blame everyone except himself for what's gone wrong so many times that it doesn't even make an impact any more.  It's like a living next to the railroad tracks.  Eventually, you get so used to the noise that you just tune it out and don't even hear it any more.

Obama: GOP Stuck Me with a Steak Dinner Tab

Doing His Job

I'm linking this for one line:  the statement that if President Obama has full confidence in Eric Holder, he's probably the last remaining American who does.  That statement misses the point.  Holder is stonewalling this because that's what the President wants him to do.  Holder is not some rogue cabinet member who's beyond control of President Obama.  He's doing the president's bidding on this, as with everything else he does.  Eric Holder isn't going anywhere.  Well, not until after the election, anyway.

Cornyn to Holder: "It Is My Sincere Hope President Obama Replaces You"

Playing to Win

One of the rules of politics is that you don't pick a fight unless you intend to do whatever it takes to win that fight.  If the Republicans choose to fight the Administration in regard to Eric Holder and Fast and Furious (and they should), they'd better be in it for the long haul and be willing to do whatever it takes to win.  Otherwise, they'll look weak and would be better off not to have picked the fight in the first place.

Boehner's Office: Politico Report Wrong, Issa Leading Charge Against Holder

I'll Believe It When I See It (Part 2)

I'd like to think all African-Americans won't just vote in lock-step for President Obama, but I don't really think that.  The Democrats have locked up the African-American vote for years and years.  I see no reason to think that's going to change now.

The more interesting thing is why such a large percentage of African-Americans will vote for President Obama.  After all, you know what we'd call it if ninety percent of whites voted for Mitt Romney.  However, that's a subject for another post.

Obama is Losing a Stunning Amount of African-American Support in North Carolina

You Can't Escape Reality

You can try, of course, and President Obama has been trying hard.  He's been throwing every other subject he can think of out there, trying desperately to give people something, anything, to think about other than the economy.  No matter what he does, though, people are still going to think about it.  The economy is a reality that affects everyone, whereas no one's all that affected by thing Mitt Romney may or may not have done in high school.

Carville: Obama "Will Fail" If He Talks About Economic Growth

Technology

You can ignore it if you want to, but if you do, you'll be left behind.  The history of the world is that technology advances, and that if you want to be a part of society you need to advance with it.

Yes, this is a story about baseball, but it applies to other areas as well.  It makes no sense to stay in the twentieth century now that we're a dozen years into the twenty-first.

Bobby Valentine Favors Technology

I'll Believe It When I See It

Here's the deal about Democrats.  It doesn't matter if they're conservative Democrats, Jewish Democrats, pro-life Democrats, or any other kind of Democrats.  They're always Democrats first.  They see themselves as being on the team, and they'll ultimately support the team no matter what the team does.

If the Democrats are starting to lose their hold on the Jewish vote, that would be a good thing, but I'll have to see it to believe it.

Poll Finds Support for Obama Among Jewish Voters Has Dropped

Seriously, I'm Not Going to Hammer Him for This

I've known people who are subject to seizures.  They're tricky things.  Sometimes they happen with no warning.  Sometimes you go for a long time without one, and then get one.  It's a bad thing that happened, obviously, but unless and until I find out more, I'm not going to criticize Commerce Secretary John Bryson for this.

Commerce: Bryson Suffered Seizure

No Big Deal

Mind you, it should be a big deal, but then the entire Fast and Furious scandal should be a big deal.  What will happen, though, is that the Democrats will all vote no, the media will report it as Republicans vs. Democrats, and the public will say, "Oh, that's just politics" and turn it off.  Which, of course, is exactly what the Democrats and the media (forgive the redundancy) want.

House Committee Schedules Contempt Vote Against Holder

E. J. Dionne Has a Point

Not his main point, not that government is the solution.  The point he has is in the first paragraph.  Democrats clearly believe that government is the solution, not just for the economy but for every problem that exists in the world.  So, why not say that?

The answer, of course, is that they're afraid they'll lose the election if they do.  Really, though, everyone knows that's what they believe anyway.  Why not come out and own it?  People who proudly stand for something are at least worthy of respect, even if they're wrong.  More respect than people who'll just say whatever they think it takes to get elected, anyway.

Government is the Solution

Don't Be Fooled

Just because someone is a Republican, it does not mean he's a conservative.  That's true even if the Democrats don't like him, and even if the media consistently labels him as "conservative."  There are plenty of so-called conservatives who are primarily interested in keeping their power.  They may, on occasion, talk a good game about cutting government, but the bottom line is that they don't want the boat rocked.

Wind Tax Credits Vital to Energy Independence, Rove Says

Well, I Know I'm Relieved

No need to worry about more national security leaks coming from the White House.  Eric Holder is on the case.  I'm sure we'll have the results of this investigation soon, and it'll be just as thorough and hard hitting as, well, the Justice Department's investigation into Fast and Furious.

Holder Assigns Prosecutors to Investigate Leaks

Loyalty

When you don't give it, you usually don't get it.  President Obama may have been finding that out lately.

Lanny Davis Blasts "Vicious People Working for the President"

Jan Hus Could Have Warned Them

So could Martin Luther and many others.  You can pick a fight with the Catholic church if you want to, but it's not going to sit idly by when you do.  It's going to fight back.

Wapo: Is Fortnight for Freedom a Covert Catholic Effort to Unseat Obama

Just a Reminder

There's an old saying that the Supreme Court follows the election returns.  I suspect it follows the polls, too.  That's not to say that it slavishly follows them, nor that it should, but it certainly is aware of them and is not unaffected.

Corroboration: Americans Really Want the Supreme Court to Smack Down the Obama Admin's High Profile Cases

Tolerance

Tell me again which side it is that's for open-minded debate and which side imposes litmus tests and allows no dissent.  For that matter, tell me again which side needs to tone down its hateful and violent rhetoric.  "He's dead to us" sounds pretty intolerant, hateful, and violent to me.

Booker's Big Mouth Ruins Relationship With Obama, Cabinet Hopes

Perspective

See, if my side is raising money and your side isn't, that shows how popular my side is and how much the American people support us.  If your side is raising money and my side isn't, that shows your side is trying to buy the election and threatens democracy as we know it.

Democrats Lament Too Much Money in Politics as Obama Heads to California for Five More Fundraisers

Can You Believe It?

I don't understand why everyone just accepts the government's unemployment numbers, or any of the government's numbers, as fact.  It was revealed at the end of the Clinton administration that the government was lying about the economic numbers.  Does anyone think the Obama administration wouldn't do that?  Why do we just assume the numbers it reports are accurate?

Weekly Jobless Claims Drop After Weekly Upward Revision

Which Party Wants to Kill People?

Neither, of course, but it's a charge Democrats make against Republicans who say that we can't have everything we want just because we want it.  On the other hand, this tax, supported by Democrats, will result in fewer innovations in medical technology, which will result in people dying who might not have otherwise.  I'm sure Democrats don't actually want those people to die, but we are all responsible for the consequences of our actions.

Obamacare's 'Medical Device' Tax Kills Patients, Not Just Jobs

I Agree

In fact, I said it before they did.  Still, affirmation is affirmation.

McCain: Security Leaks Coming from 'Highest Levels' of White House

Little to None

That's about how many new posts will show up here the rest of the week, as life intervenes.  If time permits, a few new things may show up.  If not, please check back next Monday, when the regular schedule will resume.  Thank you.

It Depends

Naming Mike Leavitt the head of Mitt Romney's transition team may be a big deal, or it may not be.  First is the obvious--unless Romney wins, it doesn't matter who the head of his transition team is.  Second, though, is how much of a role the head of the transition team plays in making policy and in selecting the people who will make policy.  If he's more of a coordinator, then it's probably no big deal.  If he's going to be a key adviser on what Romney does and/or who's going to give Romney advice on what to do, then it could be a big deal.  Remembering, of course, that it's Mitt Romney who will ultimately be responsible for what happens, not Mike Leavitt.

Romney's Transition Leader Favors Implementing Obamacare

Less Than Meets the Eye

An argument about cutting spending quickly or slowly would be a good one to have, because either way, it would mean that we're cutting spending, which would not only be a good thing but a major change in government policy.

I think the answer to whether we should cut quickly or slowly depends on how imminent the debt crisis is.  If we have time to cut slowly, we should, because that will cause less disruption in people's lives.  If we don't, if collapse is coming unless we act now, then we have to act now and deal with the disruptions as best we can.

What's most important, though, is that we at least acknowledge that cutting is the direction in which we need to go.

Is Romney the Keynesian Choice in November?

This Is Unbelievable

Not the part about Eric Holder and David Axelrod wanting to fight each other like a couple of kids.  I can totally believe that.  What I can't believe is Holder getting all outraged about the politicization of his office.

Unless he was just mad because he wanted to do all the politicizing himself.  That I could believe.

War in the White House: Attorney General Eric Holder and Top Obama Adviser David Axelrod 'Had to be Separated

Mixed Feelings

Believe me, I get what they're saying.  It's not just churches, though.  It's well known, at least in my area, that if you want to get a crowd to come to something, you need to have food, and it's better if it's something baked and sugary.  If you're a civic-minded person, you're subject to a lot of temptation.

On the other hand, nobody's forcing you to eat it.  And you know, life's hard enough.  I'm all for staying in decent shape, but I'm not about to start telling people they can't have a brownie once in a while.

The Obesity Epidemic in America's Churches

This Is Scary

I've always be in favor of full disclosure of political contributions.  It seems to me a much better method of campaign finance reform than arbitrary limits on contributions.  If we all know that billionaire X is pumping all kinds of money into candidate Y's campaign, then we can each decide whether we think that's important or not.

Somehow, it never occurred to me that the contributions of ordinary citizens would be compiled and the information would be used to threaten them.  I guess I was naive about machine politics.  At any rate, something needs to be done about this.

Just Letting You Know Your Neighbors' Political Contributions

Whatever It Takes

If that means encouraging fraudulent voting, so be it.  At least, according to the Justice Department.

Justice Department Encourages Voter Fraud the Chicago Way

Faith

A lot of people seem to put it in politicians, political parties, and political ideologies.  That's why it's so hard for people who disagree about politics to have a polite, civilized discussion.  Too many people don't look at a political disagreement as an exchange of differing but legitimately held positions.  They look at it as a dispute between good and evil, and of course, you don't look for common ground with evil.  You defeat evil, by any means you can.

Democrat Commiteewoman Resigns From Party, Cites Her Catholic Faith

We Have to Destroy the Environment to Save It

Not much to say here, really, other than that once again, the people who favor big government the most never seem to want to live under its rules themselves.

Jerry Brown to Propose Limiting Environmental Challenges to High-Speed Rail

Skip This Post

Seriously.  It means nothing to you.  But I grew up watching amateur baseball, and I lived in Wessington Springs for seventeen years.  I did the public address announcing for the Springs Owls for many of those years.  It made me very sad when they didn't have a team last year.  Now they're back.  And I'm happy.

Pony Hills League Set to Begin; Amateur Baseball Teams Ready to Kick Off Competition

I Understand

I'm not saying Ken Harrelson was right on the substance of what he said.  It's just that we all have had times where something makes us so mad that we want to just totally let loose, but we know that if we do we'll get into big trouble.  If you've listened to the video, you can hear him struggling with exactly that.  He can't stop himself from ranting, but at least he stops himself from being profane about it, which you can tell part of him really wanted to be.

I understand, Hawk.  We've all been there.

Harrelson Gets Warning Over Purpose Pitch Brouhaha

I Hope It's Worth It

I wish nothing but the best for Johan Santana.  I loved him when he played for my team, the Twins, and I still like him.  Still, 134 pitches is a lot of pitches, especially when you're coming off a major injury.  I know a no-hitter is really special, but having Santana healthy all season would be pretty special, too.

Santana Delivers 1st Mets No-hitter

Arrogance

When you're just better than everyone else, you don't have to be consistent in your opinions.  So, you do dumb stuff like this, because in your mind, nobody has the right to question you.

Bloomberg Pitches Soda Ban in Appearance to Celebrate National Doughnut Day

It's True Because I Want It to Be

All of us have stories about our family's history.  Sometimes these stories have been handed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years.  I have a couple like that in my family.

These stories are, shall we say, of doubtful provenance.  It's not that they were necessarily made up, although that sometimes happens.  Rather, they get added to and embellished over the years.  Forgotten or never known details get supplied, sometimes without us even realizing it.

When we're young, we swallow these stories whole.  When we get older, though, we start to realize that they may not be correct.  We may still choose to believe them, because we don't have any evidence that they're false, but we don't go around insisting to everyone that they have to be true.  We certainly don't use them to gain advantage for ourselves in our lives and careers.

At least, most of us don't.  Some people, however, go on insisting that because they believe these stories are true, and because they want them to be true, they therefore must be true, and so it's perfectly legitimate to use them in that way.

Warren: "I Won't Deny Who I Am"

We Shouldn't Know This

Not that it comes as a big shock or anything.  I'm not surprised to learn that the U.S. and Israel were behind the Stuxnet virus, and I don't suppose Iran is, either.  Still, if we hadn't admitted it, they might have had to wonder at least a little bit.  Now, they don't.  That may not be a huge problem, but it's not helpful, either.

Stuxnet Was Work of US and Israeli Experts, Officials Say

I Should Care About This

I don't live in New York, but I buy a 32-ounce diet soda pretty much every day.  If this succeeds in New York, it'll spread elsewhere.  Diet soda isn't on the list yet, but it will be eventually.  My fountain soda pop could be in jeopardy here.

Yet, for some reason, I really don't care.  Maybe my give-a-darn's busted today.

One final thought:  if you're at a self-serve place, how are they going to know whether you filled you cup with sugared soda or diet soda?

New York Plans to Ban Sale of Big Sizes of Sugary Drinks