Monthly Archives: October 2007

News Brief, Happy Belated Power Bottom Appreciation Day Edition

Cross-posted on The Conjecturer Defense & The War Infamous mercenary Tim Spicer, who runs the infamous paramilitary organization Aegis (née Sandline) might take over Blackwater’s contract. This is because all State Department convoys are being placed under DoD command, and … Continue reading

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The agony of totalitarians

From boils to flatulence.

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Congress’ Sweet Tooth

Absolutely mind boggling: Both the House bill, which was passed in July, and the Senate version, which could be voted on as early as this week, guarantee that the government will buy from American farmers an amount of sugar equivalent … Continue reading

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Israeli Death Strippers On The Prowl

Heh. Of course there is some evidence these tactics might work.

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Closed Minded Bigots

I found this post very apt to a situation we’ve highlighted here on this blog. I’ve noticed this time and time again, and have shut off even trying to change minds when I encounter this behavior. Best to point it … Continue reading

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Global Warming = California Wildfires

So says Harry Reid and other environmentalists, so it must be true. No doubt they have checked with everyone who agrees with them and they have a consensus about it. So, what caused them way back when… If there was … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Domestic Politics, Environment, Keith's Page | 1 Comment

20 Decapitated Corpses- Or Not

Time can’t seem to check out stories which on their face are improbable. Here is more. You would think Franklin Foer’s troubles might make people double check possible, but highly unlikely stories.

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Footwear Follies — A Continuing Saga

The hits just keep on rollin’. It seems that the Boi from Brazil (you know the one who wrote that outstanding bestseller “How Would A Patriot Act?” — apparently they move to another country) has noticed little ole us in … Continue reading

Posted in Glenn Greenwald's Carnival of Fisking, Humor, MichaelW's Page | 6 Comments

Reconciliation in Iraq – II

The surge was meant to reduce violence so that there was breathing space for reconciliation. Well, as most will admit now, the surge has reduced violence. Whether that is a short-term, or a long-term shift, remains to be seen. Many … Continue reading

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Definitional Racism — Generation Indoctrination

Last week I noted some rather disturbing lessons being taught at Little Rock Central High School. My main point was that pitting kids against one another based on race is not only antithetical to the aims of the Civil Rights … Continue reading

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English Lit. Professor Strays From Field!

Calculators and empirical evidence the only things safe from his penetrating mind rays.

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News Brief, Sobriety Check Edition

Cross-posted on The Conjecturer Defense & the War I am normally sympathetic to entries that are mocking Glenn Greenwald. However, I have to lend him at least some credence here—he is, after all, in the curious position of being the … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, Military Matters, Notes on the war | 30 Comments

It is time to do something-Update

Over at Bob From Brockley’s place I came across this: Eric Lee of LabourStart writes: As many of you will be aware, jailed Iranian labour activist Mansour Osanloo faced the loss of vision in one eye while the regime refused … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page | 6 Comments

Congratulations

To Buck Sargent.

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These Old Hands

Many people suggest that we should listen to the wise council of the International Relations experts rather than ideologues who don’t understand how things work. I will not deny that is possibly usually true, but my own experience is that … Continue reading

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Who Said It?

Can you guess who said the following? (answer after the jump): “I am not interested in being the candidate of Wall Street but of Main Street,” he says. “CEOs get paid 500 times what the average worker does, but they … Continue reading

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Ethics and Journalism

Now, don’t laugh, there are standards by which they are supposed to conduct themselves, at the least, professionally. From the Society of Professional Journalists (based here in Indianapolis,) we have these standards: Seek Truth and Report It Journalists should be … Continue reading

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Milton Friedman and Phil Donahue

From the Liberty Papers: [youtube RWsx1X8PV_A&eurl=http://www.thelibertypapers.org/]

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A Cartel Bites the Dust

The Institute for Justice continues its work and breaks the taxi cab cartel in Minneapolis. H/T: Doug Mataconis

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Reconciliation Happening in Iraq

Well, really, it’s been happening, just not on the front pages of the MSM. I don’t know what people are expecting, a grand national conference where everyone agrees to put down all their difference, and then from that day forward … Continue reading

Posted in Military Matters, Notes on the war | 3 Comments

War is about more than victory

Brian Doherty accepts the possibility of victory, however defined, and then goes on to argue that that still does not make the invasion a good idea. I have some quibbles, but for the most part he is right. While he … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Murtha’s pork getting more and more scrutiny

In the pantheon of pork infused corruption we have seen iconic figures such as Don Young and Ted Stevens feel some heat recently, and now one of the kings of pork may find himself facing increased scrutiny, legal and otherwise, … Continue reading

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Oy – of mice and men

How can anyone read Glenn Greenwald prattling on about how picked on he feels by the VRWC?? And remain so slavishly loyal to him as to defend his own behavior. If his point is the supposed politicization of the military, … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Glenn Greenwald's Carnival of Fisking, Keith's Page, Media, Military Matters | 4 Comments

I had to pull a post I was about to publish because the news has changed

Luckily it is good news! I am sure most of you read about the 11 tribal leaders kidnapped in Baghdad. Frankly, I figured they were toast. What is interesting is that they were kidnapped by Shiites and identified as Shiites … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war | 5 Comments

A “Reality Based” Delusion

Krugman talking about Iran and 9/11.

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Poor, Poor Pitifull Me

Gleenwald sure is going to a lot of trouble to play the victim… His latest update on the possibility that a member of the US Military is not treating him with all the respect due to a member of the … Continue reading

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TNR’s Defense

Bob Owens addresses some of the silly arguments supporting The New Republic, though fisking Tim Rutten is almost unfair. Patterico is less than impressed as well.

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The Great Sock Puppet is hunting IP’s- We have been noticed by the Greenwald fan club! Updated 10:30 PM CST 10/29

I was over at Patterico’s this evening and what do I see? I swear I’m not making this up: If you are well-versed in analyzing IP addresses, email headers and the like, please email me (GGreenwald@salon.com). If you don’t get … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, Glenn Greenwald's Carnival of Fisking, Lance's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war | 16 Comments

Is it Torture?

One of the irritating aspects of the debate over treatment of detainees has been the abuse, imprecision and what seems purposeful vagueness on the meaning of the word torture. I have been inclined to accept the notion that waterboarding is … Continue reading

Posted in Lance's Page | 19 Comments

Mukasey on trial

Over waterboarding. The question he has not or will not answer is, “is it legal.” Captain Ed takes this question on: And here is the core of the silliness in this standoff. Here we have Congress, as represented by the … Continue reading

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Legalizing Marijuana

Captain Ed questions the cost of keeping marijuana Illegal.

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The Subtle Oil Shock

It hasn’t been all that shocking. Why not? Greg Mankiw supplies a few possibilities. My favorites? Well let us start here: In contrast to much rhetoric to the contrary, capitalism is the most powerful weapon to achieve energy efficiency we … Continue reading

Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Environment, Hugo Chavez, Lance's Page, Libertarianism | Leave a comment

Columbine, Che and Heroism

The twisted truth examined by Eric Scheie.

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Tax Reform from Charlie Rangel-Updated

Greg Mankiw gives us some different views. Personally I would suggest scrapping corporate taxes altogether, and Kevin Drum sort of agrees with me. Update: Greg has more: Thus, as a first approximation, the plan increases the progressivity of the tax … Continue reading

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Time to praise something admirable in politics and media

It is not often that we hear people willing to face the wrongheaded aspects of a view they hold. Jack Shafer is no friend of Rupert Murdoch, but it is refreshing to hear him take apart some of the main … Continue reading

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Dale Franks and the YAF

Some things really tend to leave me with my mouth refusing to shut in astonishment. Now read this: The Little Green Footballs blog decided to condemn MSU-YAF for hosting Nick Griffin. In case you do not read Little Green Footballs, … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Lance's Page, Libertarianism, Race, Society | 3 Comments

Hollywoods Redemption?

If done right this could be the first movie not taking the war as some kind of political hammer. Old news yes, but still something I can look forward to: Hollywood “Marines” could soon be taking orders from actor Harrison … Continue reading

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We should give thanks to members of the Iraqi Army in Besmaya

The Iraqi army expresses solidarity with the American people by raising funds for relief in San Diego. The amount is small, but it is certainly a sacrifice for them. Opfor has the release and thoughts about the way we see … Continue reading

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Heh- Foer’s descent

Want to see the image in all its glory? Head over to the Exurban League.

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Not Your Grandfather’s Hollywood

Movies from the 40′s about WWII while America was engaged in WWII: Action in the North Atlantic (1943) (“Warner Bros. thunderous story of the men of the merchant marine!”) Air Force (1943) Back to Bataan (1945) Bataan (1943) (“THE STORY … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Foreign affairs, Media, MichaelW's Page, Notes on the war | 10 Comments

Pointing Fingers and Making Excuses – SOP

Standard Operating Politicians… Didn’t take long for politicians to start pointing fingers at who to blame for the delayed use of fire-fighting aircraft in California. And everyone has an excuse. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305341,00.html It took as long as a day for Navy, … Continue reading

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Ethnic Cleansing In LA

Who would have thought this kind of thing would happen in this day and age, in America. But, add one part “War on Drugs,” and one part “Illegal Immigration,” and you get volatile results. A south Los Angeles Latino street … Continue reading

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Items To Save During A House Fire

Self – Check Spouse – Check Kids – Check Pets – Check Important Papers – Checks Satellite Receiver – WTF The nerve of some corporations! When this Azola couple got back from their honeymoon, they had about an hour of … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Keith's Page, Society, Technology | 4 Comments

Stephen Green takes a whack

At Andrew Sullivan. Does he even read the people he attacks anymore? If he does, is he just re-imagining it to suit his own moral vanity? Let’s face it. In Sullivan’s mind, it’s not enough to disagree with Bush, or … Continue reading

Posted in Lance's Page, Notes on the war | 1 Comment

Go Bill, Go!

Bill Clinton takes on the truthers.

Posted in Domestic Politics, Lance's Page | 1 Comment

Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later — Indoctrination

I hadn’t ever seen this series before, but I have to admit that I find this stuff pretty damn scary: That’s just a snippet of what is apparently being taught to our kids of high school age. Not only are … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Media, MichaelW's Page, Race, Society | 36 Comments

The Atonement of Beauchamp-Updated

I see a young man who made a big mistake. I am a big believer in second chances. The editors of TNR have squandered their chance to fix this. Scott is doing what he needs to do, I hold no … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war | 29 Comments

Second Chances

I’m with Michael on this aspect of the New Republic scandal. Beauchamp has done the honorable thing and told the truth when it mattered. He’s also facing the worst punishment, facing his peers and living/working with the people he slighted … Continue reading

Posted in Keith's Page, Military Matters | 2 Comments

The New Republic’s Fiasco-Update x3

Not only were Scott Beauchamp’s stories fabrications, but the New Republic knew he wasn’t standing behind them. This has been claimed and suspected, but Matt Drudge now has documented proof. Transcripts of conversations and the results of the official investigation … Continue reading

Posted in Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war | 4 Comments

Crushing of Dissent: Venezuela (Updated)

The slow march towards full-fledged totalitarianism in Venezuela is picking up the pace. Citizens opposed to Chavez’s plans to change the constitution were forcibly deterred from meeting with the National Assembly by Venezuelan authorities: Venezuelan riot police fired tear gas … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign affairs, Hugo Chavez, MichaelW's Page | Leave a comment