...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 6, 2009

New Power Lines and Power Plants Needed
  Energy piece by Press Release: Michelle Hindmarch (11/6/09)

New Power Lines and Power Plants Needed To Strengthen Already Stressed U.S. Power Grids -  WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 6, 2009) - The Western Business Roundtable told a U.S. House Committee this week that economic recovery will require rapid new investment and government approval of additions to the nation’s already stressed power grids or “we may end up pushing the grid into the red zone and leaving cities and towns in the dark.“

Misery Index Continues To Climb
  Economics piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (11/6/09)

New unemployment numbers pushed the Misery Index yet higher.

Coming U.S. Bond Default
  Economics piece by Offsite (11/6/09)

The U.S. may have to default on its debt payments after 2019, writes economist Robert Samuelson.

U.S. On Brink of Deflation Crisis
  Economics piece by Offsite (11/6/09)

The U.S. is on the precipice of a deflation crisis, one which will devastate consumers and businesses alike, publisher Mort Zuckerman writes.

Union Violates Free Speech, the Right to vote and Smashes Common American Democracy
  Unions piece by Warner Todd Huston (11/6/09)

There’s not much that union supporters and I can agree upon. But here is one incident where I can wholeheartedly support the aggrieved members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) who have found themselves victims of their own union.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Government As Narcotics Dealer
   Economics piece by Thomas E. Brewton (11/6/09)

Since the advent of the Federal Reserve System in 1913, monetary authorities have repeatedly upped the narcotic dosage as a remedy for the pains of easy money and credit addiction.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

A Possible 2012 Republican Ticket
   Elections piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (11/5/09)

Huckabee/Romney or Romney/Huckabee currently looks like a good choice(1).  Obviously Sarah Palin needs to be in the mix.

NEA raves to teachers about Alinsky ‘guidebook’‘
   Shadow Government piece by Offsite (11/5/09)

Recommends texts by radical community organizer who ‘encouraged positive social change’ - The National Education Association has made a glowing assessment of radical socialist community organizer Saul Alinsky and is enthusiastically recommending American public school teachers read two of his books, including one dedicated to Satan.

Armored troop carriers called unsafe for duty
   Military piece by Offsite (11/5/09)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan | Staff Sgt. Daniel Paul Rabidou nervously rubbed the sweat from his palms onto his Army fatigues.

Choosing fantasy or facts
   Taxes piece by Offsite (11/5/09)

Have you noticed that many politicians who have trouble dealing with reality also seem to prefer fantasyland when dealing with budgets?

Glenn Beck In Recovery
   Health piece by Offsite (11/5/09)

After being in pain most of the night, Glenn ended up leaving the radio program early yesterday to see a doctor. Turned out the pain was appendicitis and Glenn underwent surgery. Everything went well and he is now in recovery and doing fine.

Open Borders Creates Illegals Crime Wave
   Immigration piece by Offsite (11/5/09)

President Barack Obama’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have been slow to grasp the magnitude of criminal immigrant gangs in the United States. The Obama administration tables the findings of Washington think tanks on drug-related crime, gangs, and terrorists on U.S. streets. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder downplay the threat that criminal immigrant gangs pose to national security.

Uncoupling responsibility and liability
   Socialism piece by GoldwaterInstitute: Clint Bolick (11/5/09)

The redistribution of wealth is a central theme of our current political era. That trend just received a boost from a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which reinstated a lawsuit that, if successful, could fundamentally transform the concept of liability and enrich scores of environmental and personal-injury lawyers.

ECA Urges Unbiased Evaluation of E-cigarettes as Debate Intensifies Around These Devices
   Health piece by Press Release: Matt Salmon (11/5/09)

Washington, DC - November 5, 2009 - As the debate heats up concerning the use of electronic cigarettes, Electronic Cigarette Association (ECA) President Matt Salmon today encouraged those involved in this discussion to carefully and honestly study how these devices work and recognize that the more than one million adult committed smokers, who use electronic cigarettes, are seeking an alternative to combustible cigarettes that contain a multitude of toxic, harmful chemicals.

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.