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Monthly Archives: April 2008
Restructure State to Save It
Cross-posted from Registan.net, your one-stop shop for news and analysis of going on in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Thirteen months ago, I noted the problems caused by the U.S. State Department having dramatically different divisions than the military COCOMs. … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Foreign affairs
Tagged Domestic Politics, government, policy, State, US
5 Comments
Sins of Omission – Updated
The sin of omission that Hillary is committing with the re-telling of the Indiana plant moving to China (while not mentioning that it was sold to China during her husbands tenure,) is starting to gather some light. The following story … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Keith's Page
Tagged Bayh, Bill Clinton, China, Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Magnaquench, trade
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Man Arrested Trying to Cash $360 Billion Check
Some people just don’t think things through.
Shooting Oneself in the Foot
Never underestimate the power of a politician to overestimate their power, especially in an election year. Just as the signs are trending towards a “permanent” majority for Democrats, one of them has the bright idea to poke a sleeping bear. … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Election 2008, Firearms, Keith's Page
Tagged Elections 2008, GOA, gun control, guns, Lautenberg, NRA, SAF
2 Comments
Jefferson Memorial Follow Up
Following up on Jon’s post a few weeks ago on the group dancing at the Jefferson memorial, we have some more information. A group of friends and other people at the incident have set up a web page. Free the … Continue reading
Let’s Talk About Chicks, Man
A few weeks ago, my friend Megan Carpentier wondered on Glamocracy why there aren’t more prominent female political bloggers out there: But does it have to be that way? Blogs are supposed to be populist and thus it would seem … Continue reading
What Does the Evidence Say… About Us?
Question the timing! That old mantra from the halcyon days of 2002-4, when the Left would be mocked by the Right for wondering about the suspicious timing of terror alerts, is universally applicable to the Presidency. In the case of … Continue reading
The Irony Keeps Rolling : Updated
In searching today about the post I put up last week, about Clinton’s ad about defense jobs lost to China, I found these juicy bits… Bayh blasted federal policies that allowed the sale of the plant to the Chinese, saying … Continue reading
Posted in Election 2008, Keith's Page
Tagged Bayh, Clinton, Election 2008, Magnequench
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Forgive the Self-Promotion
I honestly don’t have the time to reformat everything for several cross-posts, so this is a summary of posts at my other blog, Registan.net, where I’ve been discussing some interesting topics related to counterinsurgency and reconstruction in Afghanistan, as well … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Josh's Page, Notes on the war
Tagged Afghanistan, COIN, hillary duff, kilcullen, movies, PRTs, reconstruction
1 Comment
Hoist by His Own Petard
John McCain was one politician I admired greatly. While I still believe that the man is a true hero, and while I still do applaud some of what he does, the veil has been lifted from my eyes for one … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Law, Libertarianism, Media
Tagged campaign finance, Domestic Politics, Election 2008, John McCain
2 Comments
Stop the Madness
Sooner rather than later. And this: Perhaps turning food into transportation fuel would make sense if massive amounts of grain spoiled every year from a lack of demand, but that certainly isn’t the case. Farmers love the higher prices that … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, energy, Environment, Peg's Page, science
Tagged biofuel, Domestic Politics, energy, ethanol
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Hear, Hear
One of my girlfriends is smart as a whip and a talented artist to boot. Cathy is also hard of hearing. While Cathy can read lips and she also has a device that allows her to converse in very small … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Law, Media, Peg's Page, regulation
Tagged deafness, minnesota, regulation
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Teach Your Children Well
From a Wall Street Journal reader: “The courageous thing for Congress to do would be to get rid of student-loan subsidies entirely. Then watch tuitions tumble towards ‘the affordable’ as academe realizes nobody’s throwing money at it any more.” – … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Education
Tagged Domestic Politics, Education, student loans
1 Comment
A Cubic Mile of Oil
Over at Green Tech we get some figures that should be rather sobering for those who wish for alternative energy to be a significant source of energy in the near future: Put another way, we’d need to equip 250,000 roofs … Continue reading
Is Obama an Elitist?
Finally, someone else is bringing up the same point I’ve been making about Obama’s remarks at that SanFran fundraiser… For a man who clings to a racist black preacher as tightly as Obama has clung to Reverend Wright, it’s odd … Continue reading
Posted in Election 2008, Keith's Page
Tagged Election 2008, elitism, Obama, orson scott card, racism
2 Comments
Man I Hate Illinois Nazis
I’m sure by now most of you have heard of Tony Zirkle, the Indiana lawyer running for Congress (as a third candidate) who attended a Nazi party in Chicago. However, I found his campaign site and joy of joys, it … Continue reading
Sunni Bloc To Rejoin Government
This is a positive development: Iraq’s largest Sunni bloc has agreed to return to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s cabinet after a nine-month boycott, several Sunni leaders said on Thursday, citing a recently passed amnesty law and the Maliki government’s … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Media, MichaelW's Page, Notes on the war
Tagged Basra, fauxtography, Iraq parliament, Maliki, propaganda, reconciliation, shiite militias, Sunni bloc
8 Comments
From the Horses’ Mouths (so to speak)
Whatever could this guy be going on about? “Saddam had his big castles; they symbolized his power and were places to be feared, and now we have the castle of the power that toppled him,” says Abdul Jabbar Ahmed, a … Continue reading
Search for Truth About 9/11 Leads to Beating Up Handicapped Girl
German “Gary” Talis of the 9/11 “Truth” organization “We Are Change” beat up a wheel chair bound girl with cerebral palsy yesterday. His compatriots also got into an argument with Secret Service after trying to verbally assault Laura and Jenna … Continue reading
Posted in Chris' Page, Domestic Politics, Society
Tagged 9/11 conspiracy, assult, German Talis, truthers, we are change
4 Comments
Clinton to Keep Defense Jobs Here
Here’s an ad some of you may not have seen. But now (wonder of wonders) since Indiana is a battleground state in the Democratic primary, it’s been getting plenty of air play during the local news programs. Hillary Clinton: Right … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Keith's Page, Technology
Tagged Bill Clinton, China, Election 2008, globalization, Hillary, Hillary Clinton, Indiana, jobs, Magnequench, smart bomb
10 Comments
I’m with Senator Obama
At least on this topic. Economists in general oppose a tax holiday because it would encourage consumption of gasoline at a time of soaring demand. Billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens, a longtime Republican donor, criticized Sen. McCain’s policy in an … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Election 2008, energy, Peg's Page
Tagged gas taxes, McCain, Obama, oil, T Boone Pickens, taxes
2 Comments
Get Over It!
Justice Antonin Scalia will appear on 60 Minutes this coming weekend. A preview of what he has to say is here. “I say nonsense,” Scalia responds to Stahl’s observation that people say the Supreme Court’s decision in Gore v. Bush … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Law, Peg's Page, Society
Tagged Antonin Scalia, Bush vs. Gore, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme court
1 Comment
Oxblog in Baghdad
This is cool, David Adesnik of Oxblog has been in Iraq working for the coalition on the sly. I find that encouraging and I can’t wait to hear what his impressions are. I am also encouraged that he is now … Continue reading
Possibly The Most Important News Of The Decade
Jonathan Adler tells us why it was a “Big Day In Philadelphia.” If you don’t know why I care, then read this closely (and yes, the picture was taken by my four-year old son). If you read the comments to … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web
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Try Legal Weed
No, not that. We’re talking Weed Beer. I’m talking about a beer made in the city of Weed, California. A local brewer there has named his beer after the small town. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms however, wasn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Chris' Page, regulation, Society
Tagged atf, beer, California, war on drugs, weed
2 Comments
Surgery on the Middle Man
We all expect to eat – but we don’t get insurance to guarantee food. We all need various sorts of transportation. But, other than some insurance to cover the value of a valuable vehicle, we don’t need insurance to make … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Health Care, Peg's Page
Tagged Health Care, insurance, Jonathan Kellerman
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al Sadr at Odds With Own Family
Interesting if true… Alseyed Josef Alsadar a member of the honored Sadar family wrote a letter to Alrafedain news which said: ‘Muqtada Alsadar has tainted the reputation of this respected family, and the family disowns Muqtada. We are as innocent … Continue reading
Breaking: CIA Tells Us Something We Already Knew
For at least a decade, there has been a running joke in the world of intelligence contractors that perhaps 90% of what the CIA does could be done for 1/10 the cost and 10x the effective accuracy by private, open-source … Continue reading
Open Minds
One of the toughest tasks to master is to keep an open mind. We work hard to discover what we ultimately believe to be the truth. After all that effort, often the last thing we wish to do is have … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Environment, Peg's Page, regulation, science
Tagged chemicals, Environment, environmentalism, Greenpeace, Patrick Moore, Rachel Carson
1 Comment
Silent Tsunami
As an update to this previous post, be sure to read this from The Economist. Governments ought to liberalise markets, not intervene in them further. Food is riddled with state intervention at every turn, from subsidies to millers for cheap … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Economics, Peg's Page
Tagged agriculture, Developmental economics, Economics, Europe, free trade
4 Comments
Welcoming Signs of Progress
Security improvements bringing people back to their homes in South Baghdad… With security improving, local economies flourishing and community reconstruction underway, Iraqis who once fled their South Baghdad homes in fear are now returning to the villages they deserted. This … Continue reading
As Ye Sow
So shall ye reap.Am I the only one who finds massive government interference in agricultural markets to be insanity? And, surely our own nation’s recent love affair with ethanol is a significant contribution to world wide inflationary food costs – … Continue reading
Afghanistan’s Art Is Ancient
The home of the world’s oldest oil paintings is coming soon to the National Gallery of Art. “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul” is a collection of artifacts and beautiful art pieces hidden in vaults at the National … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web
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Raise Your Hand
Are you someone who thinks that the Republican Attack Machine is far more vicious than anything Democrats could ever dream up? Please read this – and if you are still convinced, raise your hand. That is – if you have … Continue reading
Airspace Violations
Cross-posted to Registan.net, which is “All Central Asia, All the Time.” Last year, Georgia was abuzz with accusations against Russia for its military jets supposedly violating its airspace and possibly even attacking radio stations. Now, Georgian officials are hopping mad … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Military Matters
Tagged Abkhazia, Airplanes, Georgia, military, Russia, Sovereignty
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Life Imitates the Onion
9/11 Conspiracy Theories ‘Ridiculous’ al Qaeda says – The Onion April 2nd Al-Qaeda accuses Iran of 9/11 lie – BBC April 22nd
Posted in Chris' Page, Foreign affairs, Humor
Tagged 9/11, 9/11 conspiracy, al Qaeda, conspiracies, life imitates art, the onion, Zawahiri
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Driven Not by Bitterness
Here’s a quote, but read the whole thing: Apr 21st, 2008 | JONESVILLE, S.C. — A South Carolina pastor says he wasn’t trying to be political when he posted a sign in front of his church linking Democratic presidential candidate … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics
6 Comments
Observations of an American in Central China
“Chris Bartlett” is the pseudonym of a good friend of mine currently teaching English in a random city in Central China. He has contributed before his observations of life in the People’s Republic at my only begotten personal blog (kept … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs
1 Comment
Abiogenic Oil
Hoystory poses a thought-provoking question with potentially dramatic consequences for the concept of “peak oil”: What if “fossil fuels” weren’t made of fossils at all? What if the earth naturally made petroleum? What if gasoline was a renewable resource? Imagine … Continue reading
Posted in energy, Environment, MichaelW's Page, science, Technology
Tagged abiogenic, fossil fuels, Mendeleyev, oil, peak oil, scientific consensus, Sir Robert Robinson, Thomas Gold
9 Comments
More Like This Please
I was pleasantly surprised, and mildly irritated, to see that Condi Rice basically called Muqtada al-Sadr a coward while she was in Baghdad recently (via: Instapundit): Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mocked anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as a coward on … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, MichaelW's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Condi Rice, GWOT, Iran, Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr, rhetoric, Terrorism, terrorist cowards, war
14 Comments
This Generation’s Ernie Pyle
The NEW YORK POST reviews Michael Yon’s new book.
The Next Baseless Consumer Scare
Yesterday our flappy-headed friends to the North fired the opening salvo in the next ridiculous consumer scare that, thanks to New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, is sure to be convulsing US consumer markets soon. The enemy this time? BPA, … Continue reading
Consumer Spending is Ugly
While spending increased in March by 1.8% over a year ago, adjusted for inflation it was way down. The only reason sales were positive was gasoline, though food sales were positive. Even there, that is mostly due to inflation and … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Lance's Page
Tagged consumer spending, Economics, gasoline, inflation, the economy
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Patriots Day!
Dale Franks honors the story of how the fight for our Independence began on April 19th, 1775. McQ ponders how we got to where we are today, drawing from the great T Harry Williams, and Jules Crittenden has a roundup … Continue reading
Posted in History, Lance's Page, Libertarianism
Tagged American Revolution, Lexington and Concord, Patriots Day
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Beware the Believers
Heh, a response to Richard Dawkins and the unbelievers amongst us. Right or wrong, arrogant condescension does not go unpunished. Hat tip: D.A. Ridgely
Posted in Humor, Lance's Page, Music, Religion and theology
Tagged Christopher Hitchens, creationism, Daniel Dennett, Eugenie Scott, evolution, Humor, PZ Myers, rap, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, science music
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The Air Car
Posted in energy, Environment, Lance's Page, Technology
Tagged Air Car, emissions, global warming
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Man Found Dead in Lady Bird Lake in East Austin
Riad Hamad was found with in the lake with duct tape on his face and his hands and feet tied. Hamad ran the Palestine Children’s Welfare Fund (PCWF). He sued a number of people and entities like David Horowitz, NGO … Continue reading
Posted in Chris' Page
Tagged lady bird lake, Palestine Children's Welfare Fund, PCWF, Riad Hamad
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