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Category Archives: History
Honor and Sacrifice
Today is the 63rd anniversary of the D-Day landings. I can’t image what it was like. I’m sure the opening scenes of “Saving Private Ryan” comes as close as any film can. I remember seeing WWII vets at the theater, … Continue reading
Posted in History, Keith's Page, Military Matters
6 Comments
Calling Their Bluff
One of the aspects of blogging and commenting on political topics that I find quite overwhelming sometimes is tackling the vast amounts of disinformation and false premises that form the basis of a good number of arguments. It gets tiring … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, History, Media, MichaelW's Page, Notes on the war
8 Comments
A Tribute to Communism
Hat tip Club for Growth via The Liberty Papers: [youtube iyUu-8nbd58 nolink]
Posted in History, Lance's Page, Libertarianism
1 Comment
John Edwards, the “Truther” is out there (re-edited)
Edit note: In writing this I seem to have lost some edits, which when I recreated the post I left off. First, I neglected to re-link to the Cheerful Iconoclasts nice post on Edwards and also left off some tempering … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, History, Lance's Page, Media
8 Comments
News Brief, Casimir Pulaski Day Edition
Cross-posted at The Conjecturer. The Pentagon Ready for SkyNet? The MULE is. So is the Reaper. “Full spectrum capabilities” and “Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)”—however the hell they are defined this week—are how the Air Force is to win the … Continue reading
The Return of “Fairness” to the Media
Often I am told how certain people value tolerance. The most irritating are a certain species of left/liberal/progressive. If it doesn’t apply to you, please don’t be offended. This species claims it is tolerant based on certain beliefs they have. … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, History, Lance's Page, Law, Libertarianism, Media
1 Comment
News Brief, Do The Whirlwind Edition
Cross-posted at The Conjecturer. The Pentagon DARPA wants American snipers to have fool proof sniper scopes that are accurate out to 2000 meters. It also wants to expand its Boomerang sniper-detection system from simple location (which is itself a big … Continue reading
Boris Yeltsin R.I.P.
One of the more important and disappointing figures of the post war era has passed away. His successes helped usher the Soviet Union into the dustbin of history, his failures have given rise to Putin. The Washington Post has a … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page
3 Comments
Predictions about today from 1900
From Yorktown History.org. Thanks to Tyler Cowen: The Ladies Home Journal from December 1900, which contained a fascinating article by John Elfreth Watkins, Jr. “What May Happen in the Next Hundred Yearsâ€. Mr. Watkins wrote: These prophecies will seem strange, … Continue reading
Posted in History, Lance's Page
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News Brief, Karma Police Edition
(Cross-posted at The Conjecturer) The Pentagon Inside the Army reports that the Pentagon has created a council for improving counterintelligence training. The aptly-named Counterintelligence Training Council just might maybe stop the data bleeds to China and Russia we’ve seen over … Continue reading
Who has had more influence on the Democratic Party?
John F. Kennedy (one of Ronald Reagan’s heroes) or Ted? Heck, who has had more influence on the Kennedy family? I suggest one way of figuring that out is to listen to John in this video and compare it to … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, History, Lance's Page, Libertarianism
9 Comments
The other point of view
(Via Tyler Cowen) Here we have a list of history’s 100 most influential people from the viewpoint of the Japanese. The rest are below the fold, but here are the top 25. Videos and other commentary at the link. Sakamoto … Continue reading
Posted in History, Lance's Page, social science
12 Comments
The Upcoming Tax Hike
If only we still lived in the good ole’ days is a cliché which is generally unwarranted. However, looking at this copy of the 1913 form 1040 I am filled with wistful longing. From Carpe Diem via Club for Growth:
Posted in Domestic Politics, History, Lance's Page
5 Comments
Shift Happens
We live in a fast changing world. I consider that a good thing: glumbert.com – Shift Happens [tags] China, India, technology, economics, politics, US, jobs, education [/tags]
Libertarianism, George Washington and War
One part of the resistance to foreign adventures of all types comes from our nations peculiar place in the world and libertarians and small government types relying on an intellectual tradition reinforced by the masterful speech given as George Washington’s farewell address. Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page, Libertarianism
11 Comments
Dred Scott RIP-Updated
I suggest taking a trip to Gateway Pundit for a fine tribute to Dred Scott, who passed away 150 years ago. In memory of a simple man who wanted to be free. His stone reads… “Subject of the decision of … Continue reading
Posted in History, Lance's Page, Law, Race
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Ann Coulter and Little Greenwald’s Footballs: Revised as a Carnival of Fisking -New Submissions 3:45 PM CST, March 4th
Cassandra at Villainous Company (hat tip McQ) has pointed out the ever present hypocrisy and mendaciousness of Glenn Greenwald and hits a point I have made several times in the last few hours, which is that he and Ann Coulter … Continue reading
Occupation and its discontents
Matthew Yglesias makes a some good points on the viability of maintaining and deploying occupation forces: Robert Farley has a good post on the question of “Why is it that the United Kingdom, which is in an absolute sense far … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page
7 Comments
Good War, Bad War
Now, I know the response to these quotes will be to ask what were Republicans doing then? Maybe the same thing, though I can think of a number who supported Clinton wholeheartedly, even though he didn’t have a UN authorization … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page, Media
2 Comments
Serbia and The ICJ- Updated
The International Court of Justice has ruled that the Serbian state is not responsible for genocide: But the International Court of Justice did rule that Belgrade had violated international law by failing to prevent the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica. Bosnia … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page, Law
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The other side of the Vietnam story, implications for Iraq and the strange metamorphosis of Jim Webb
It is a common trope for people to deride the campaign in Iraq as another Vietnam. This seems a bit ridiculous to me, but in some senses it does fit. One way it does comes from the constant complaints about … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page, Media
6 Comments
American Civil War led to the Creation of the Suez Canal – Who Knew?
Well, some historians obviously did. Michael J Totten interviews Michael Oren, author of the book “Power, Faith, and Fantasy”, “a sweeping history of America’s involvement in the Middle East from 1776 to the present.” So, read the whole interview, it’s … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Keith's Page
4 Comments
Clintonian Promises and Political Reality
According to Hillary Clinton’s campaign website and email newsletter, she has introduced legislation intended to cripple President Bush’s ability to the prosecute the surge, and to revoke his authorization to prosecute the War in Iraq altogether: Right now, there isn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Law, MichaelW's Page
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The AP Rewrites History (Updated X2)
According to the Associated Press, U.S. Senator and presidential candidate John McCain (R-AZ) is worried that Iraq may experience the equivalent of a “Tet offensive” such as happened in Vietnam in 1968. Sen. McCain is quoted as saying: “By the … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, History, Media, MichaelW's Page
7 Comments
Radicals for Capitalism
From our friends at Laissez Faire we have Brian Doherty’s first chapter from his new book Radicals for Capitalism. A history of libertarianism in America that I plan on purchasing for myself. An excerpt from the new book RADICALS FOR … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Domestic Politics, History, Lance's Page, Libertarianism
1 Comment
The Growing Nanny State (Updated)
It appears that iPods in the ears of wayward pedestrians are the latest malady requiring the friendly hand of government: Legislation will be introduced in Albany on Wednesday to lay a $100 fine on pedestrians succumbing to what State Sen. … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, History, Law, Libertarianism, MichaelW's Page
6 Comments
Closing the Book on Cloture
Okay, maybe the various news services have gotten this whole issue of how the Democrats are stifling debate backwards, but maybe the pattern isn’t one of ignorance, willful deceit or childlike gullibitlity. Maybe this is merely a matter of a … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page, Law, Media
15 Comments
Down The Road to Dicatatorship (Updated)
Hugo Chavez travels a bit further down the road to his ultimate destination – Supreme Dictator of Venezuela – with the help of his wholly-owned subsidiary,the “National Assembly”: Venezuela’s Congress on Wednesday granted President Hugo Chavez powers to rule by … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Foreign affairs, History, Hugo Chavez, Libertarianism, MichaelW's Page
2 Comments
The Russell Amendment – How Times Have Changed
With the passage Wednesday of a Senate resolution rebuking the President’s planned “surge,” and the recent revelation that more than one fifth of Americans want that plan to fail, I couldn’t help but recall these inspiring words: In all of … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Media, MichaelW's Page
8 Comments
The State of the Union and Jim Webb’s response
All in all a competent speech. I like the ideas on health care overall which was the high point for me on the domestic policy side. On the war in Iraq he laid out his argument better than he has … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page
2 Comments
Division and discord within Iran, an opportunity?
I don’t know what to make of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri. On one hand he is one of the architects of the Islamic Republic, one time designated heir to Khomeini, a supporter of the seizing of our embassy at … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page, Media, Religion and theology
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Roosevelt, Iraq and the Media: Waxing and Waning of Percieved Influence-Updated
During WWII the media is generally acknowledged to have behaved significantly differently than the media today. The government desired coverage as positive as could be reasonably produced. Losses, setbacks and other difficulties were consistently minimized or surrounded by other copy … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page, Media
1 Comment
A Distinction Without Difference
Putative Ãœbermensch, Hugo Chavez, waxed poetic at his inaugaration Wednesday: His right hand raised Wednesday, Chavez declared in words reminiscent of Fidel Castro’s famous call-to-arms: “Fatherland, socialism or death — I swear it.” Do you think he realizes that there’s … Continue reading
Hugo’s (Invisible) Handiwork
Is Hugo Chavez a gift to mankind? Man’s greatest accomplishment is his ability to adapt. Whether through technological development, increased efficiency, innovation of skill, or just good old fashioned hard work, mankind always finds a way to meet its needs … Continue reading
Racism, Democracy, and the Realists
One of the most frequently heard talking points amongst US foreign policy “Realists” is that not every culture in the world is a suitable breeding ground for democracy. General Brent Scowcroft is one of the most recognized prophets of this … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, History, The Poet Omar's Page
22 Comments
Mail Delivery
I just received my review copy of Clayton Cramer’s “Armed America.” It is at least in part a response to the discredited work of Michael Bellisile’s “Arming America.” I’ll have a review up in the next couple of weeks, maybe … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Domestic Politics, History, Lance's Page, Law, Libertarianism
1 Comment
A Question On “Winning” The War
If there is one thing upon which libertarians, of whatever stripe, can all pretty much agree, it’s that a highly centralized government is a problem, not a solution. Why, then, is it that success in Iraq is so dependent upon … Continue reading
P J O’Rourke does Adam Smith. I want it!
I spent an hour and a half in my wife’s AP European History class on Monday. My topic was the history of economic thought during the enlightenment. Subtopics were mercantilism, the physiocrats and Adam Smith. Brief digressions on the connection … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Economics, History, Humor, Lance's Page, Libertarianism
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Pinochet: R.I.P…..Actually not – Updated
It is time to memorialize the passing of one of the lesser bastards, but a true bastard, of the last century. Augusto Pinochet has left the scene, my only problem being he never spent time in prison for his crimes. … Continue reading
Jeane Kirkpatrick R.I.P., will the rest of the neo-conservatism follow?
Many would hope so, but the passing of Jeane Kirkpatrick should serve to remind us of some things. Intellectual ideas on foreign policy are not simple to describe or easily pigeonholed. Jeane Kirkpatrick was the Reaganite answer to the Realpolitik … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page
11 Comments
Jeane Kirkpatrick, ex-ambassador, dies
What can be said is being said, by all the right people… http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061208/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/obit_kirkpatrick_12 Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, an unabashed apostle of Reagan era conservatism and the first woman U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has died. The death of the 80-year-old … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Keith's Page
1 Comment
Should Pearl Harbor matter to how we think today?
It has become almost apriori proof that you are an unsophisticated wingnut to bring up lessons from WWII. That was an event so unique that no lessons of any importance are allowed to poke their head into current foreign policy … Continue reading
An Unconstitutional Bill
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, History, Law, MichaelW's Page
13 Comments
A Collection of Thoughts on Friedman’s Passing- Continuously updated, just scroll down
Last Updated at 10:23PM Central Time For all of our coverage of the passing of Milton Friedman, and all the links you could ever want, go to our Milton Friedman Memorial page. From Pejman,”That’s right. A lecture concerning a mundane … Continue reading
In Defense of Usury
While at the University of Oklahoma I was subjected to a course on the History of England taught by a professor of Womens Studies. The course, and the professor, was economically illiterate which was unfortunate since the course covered the … Continue reading
Posted in Developmental economics, Domestic Politics, Economics, History, Lance's Page, Law, Media
1 Comment
Fulfilling the Prescription
Most everyone knows, although a suprisingly large number of us ignore, the admonishment to “take all of your medicine.” Any doctor will tell you that if you fail to take the full course of anti-biotics prescribed for you ailment (say, … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, History, MichaelW's Page
11 Comments
Lancet Update
So, if the official documents they found are to be believed (and they should have gotten copies of each one, a major error) and their contention is that the vast majority of these documents have not been included in the numbers that have been reported as an explanation of the discrepancy, then that should have been tested. How? I would think making a good faith effort to see if they had been recorded officially would be a good place to start. If we had copies of each one, that could even be independently verified by other researchers. That wouldn’t be enough for me, but it would be a good start. They could then check to see how many had been included in the IBC data, and if not find out why or why not. That is real science. Hiding behind the statistical validity of your methods is not. Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page
12 Comments
Scratching a petty, but annoying itch
***Update X2 See comments in response to glasnost for further elaboration on timing. Granted, it is a minor irritant, but I am going to scratch anyway. Yesterday our government charged Adam Gadahn with treason. Andrew Cohen of the Washington Post … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page, Law
4 Comments
Examining the Orange Revolution
Daniel Drezner has pointed me to an interesting blog that those of us with an interest in democratic change should take note of during its likely short lifespan. The 21st Century Trust in collaboration with the John Smith Memorial Trust … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Foreign affairs, History, Lance's Page, Religion and theology
1 Comment
Fascism Cannot Equal Freedom (UPDATED)
I have delayed addressing the previous posts regarding fascism in order to let the comments percolate and the issue become more defined. Before I do so here, please take the time to read the previous posts (here and here) and … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, History, MichaelW's Page
30 Comments