I’ve been resisting commenting on the financial crisis, wanting to have a better understanding before saying anything. But last night’s debate frustrated me; John McCain let Obama get away with alleging that the problem was a lack of regulation, when in fact it was a combination of government directives and cronyism on the part of Congressional Democrats. Power Line offers a video that does an … Continue reading The Panic of ’08
Twenty-four hours before McCain and Obama faced off, Daniel Bonevac and James Galbraith debated before a crowd of about 4,000 at the University of Texas at Austin (video streaming here, though I can’t seem to make it work on this computer). Stephen Green drunkblogged the actual McCain-Obama debate. He sums up Obama’s strategy for dealing with Iran: I wave papers in your general direction, you … Continue reading Debate Before the Debate
From Quid Nimis: DEAR AMERICAN: I NEED TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AN URGENT SECRET BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH A TRANSFER OF FUNDS OF GREAT MAGNITUDE. I AM MINISTRY OF THE TREASURY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AMERICA. MY COUNTRY HAS HAD CRISIS THAT HAS CAUSED THE NEED FOR LARGE TRANSFER OF FUNDS OF 800 BILLION DOLLARS US. IF YOU WOULD ASSIST ME IN THIS TRANSFER, IT … Continue reading New Spam?
Ever since the Enlightenment, a standard line has been that religion is irrational; if only we could get rid of it, rationality would reign. Recent studies cast doubt on that view: From Hollywood to the academy, nonbelievers are convinced that a decline in traditional religious belief would lead to a smarter, more scientifically literate and even more civilized populace. The reality is that the New … Continue reading Religion and Reason
Here’s the speech Sarah Palin wasn’t allowed to give yesterday—and a powerful speech it is. Caroline Glick reacts. Continue reading Palin on Iran
Stanley Kurtz has been digging through the files. Obama and Ayers worked closely together to radicalize Chicago schools, rejecting grant applications for programs to improve math and science education and pushing “small schools” dedicated to oppression studies and political activism. Continue reading The Chicago Annenberg Challenge
Wow. My Pet Jawa lays out evidence that a public relations firm working for the Obama campaign created and spread, through “astroturfing”—professionally produced YouTube videos and comment sockpuppetry—smears against Sarah Palin. Suddenly, the accounts have disappeared, and someone is trying to hide tracks. There’s strong evidence here, not only of dirty tricks, but of violation of campaign laws. Here’s the summary. But take the time … Continue reading The Stealth Campaign
“Congress today is fundamentally a silly place stocked with silly people.” Sounds right to me. Continue reading Is Congress Irrelevant?
This week a bipartisan group of Senators introduced a resolution “recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq” that “commends and expresses the gratitude to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces for the service, sacrifices, and heroism that made the success of the troop surge in Iraq possible.” Of course, the Democratic leadership was in opposition. Democratic Senate Majority … Continue reading Democrats Refuse to Thank Troops
Francis Beckwith and Meryl Yourish have details on how the Democrats have played hardball to prevent Sarah Palin from showing up at a protest of Iran. I like David Bernstein‘s comment best: Let me get this straight: if the only prominent American politician to attend a rally against Iran is Hillary Clinton, the rally is a neutral, nonpartisan event. If Hillary Clinton AND Sarah Palin … Continue reading Protesting Iran
The View from Alexandria 