The Archives

Dear GOP, Let’s Not Waste Romney’s VP Pick on One of Our Best Guys, OK?
19 Jul 2012 1:12 pm Warner Todd Huston

I don’t want Paul Ryan to be Romney’s Vice Presidential pick. I also don’t want Bobby Jindal, Chris Christie, or Marco Rubio to be picked. It’s not because I don’t like these guys, but because I do like them. It is precisely because they are good politicians, necessary politicians, effective politicians that I don’t want them wasted as a measly VP pick.
Does that seem counter intuitive? Well, as the founders always used to say, let’s let history be our guide. History tells us that the vice presidency is a career …

How “progressives” Roll
19 Jul 2012 12:01 am Michael Fell

When the institutionalized “progressive” left’s ancestors invaded from London and Frankfurt they made a conscious decision to re-engineer America’s culture, “to remold it nearer to the heart’s desire”. Since they began that process American society has steadily decayed.
In post WWII America, before “progressives” changed immigration laws to reduce immigration from Europe and accelerate immigration from third world countries, people were able to leave their home’s doors unlocked at night. Keys could be left in the ignition with the doors unlocked and nobody would steal the car parked in front of …

America Does Not Build Business, Business Builds America
17 Jul 2012 3:28 pm Michael Fell

In a speech given Friday to supporters at a campaign stop in Roanoke, Va., the current Oval Office occupant told business owners they owe their business success to government built infrastructure saying:
“If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me because they want to give something back. If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I …

“All The Presidents’ Menus”
15 Jul 2012 6:30 am Craig Newmark

“While compiling this list I attempted as often as possible to learn not what the presidents ate at state functions and inaugural dinners but during their solitary breakfasts and family suppers—in other words, their comfort foods.”

236 Independence Days and Counting, But What Does it all Mean?
4 Jul 2012 3:35 pm Warner Todd Huston

Today America enjoys the celebration of 236 years of existence as a nation by noting the day we declared our independence from our Mother nation, England. Sadly, that celebration has, for too many, become the “July Fourth” holiday, a day of picnics, rote parades, “white sales,” and for some a day off work. Of course, we should not and don’t celebrate any “July Fourth.” We celebrate Independence Day, the day we formally separated from our parent nation and took those first unsure steps into the world as a nation of …

obamacare: Tip of the Iceberg
29 Jun 2012 5:48 pm Michael Fell

Since the ruling by the United States Supreme Court on Thursday, June 28, 2012, the big news in America has been how the obama administration, then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid misrepresented the legislation to Congress, the Senate and the public.
It was consistently presented as a cost saving measure that would reduce the size of U.S. national deficits, thus helping pay down the debt, while improving the quality and lowering the costs of healthcare. Insurance premiums would be reduced. It would provide coverage …

Adieu France, So Long Stability
19 Jun 2012 5:06 pm Michael Fell

French Socialist President Francois Hollande’s newly elected government is planning to raise taxes on big companies while deterring businesses from engaging in layoffs by making that process more costly.
Hoping to nudge companies into investing rather than paying profits to shareholders, the government plans to impose a new 3% tax on dividends. Other plans include raising levies on capital gains, a special tax on banks and on energy companies, as well as imposition of government policies requiring the sale of profitable businesses in lieu of closure.
France’s Socialist government will dictate that …

Choose Your Stimulus
17 May 2012 6:50 pm Michael Fell

The Spanish Economic Ministry denied there’s been a surge in withdrawals from the nation’s banks, while Spain’s Prime Minister warned that borrowing costs could reach “astronomical” proportions over fears about the weakness of Spain’s financial institutions.
Greeks have been taking their savings out of banks, with nearly a third taken out during this year’s first quarter. Since May 7th, at least 700m euros have been withdrawn from Greek banks. Uncertainty over Greece’s exit from the eurozone is stirring global fears about Europe’s monetary future.
France’s new socialist government will not ratify the …

US Administration Renews Push to Ratify Law of Sea Treaty
12 May 2012 12:01 am Michael Fell

The Obama administration has initiated a renewed push to convince the U.S. Senate to approve the 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea treaty. Administration officials claim approval of the pact is necessary to protect the U.S. Navy’s right to carry out exercises off the coast of China. In the past Chinese ships have harassed U.S. vessels.
The administration’s push to approve the treaty comes at a time of increased focus by the Pentagon on China’s military buildup and the expansion of its influence in the Asia-Pacific region. The Pentagon is …

Georgia Gov. Signs Bill Allowing 10 Commandments Posted at all Public Bldgs
9 May 2012 5:08 pm Warner Todd Huston

Georgia Governor, Republican Nathan Deal has signed an amended “historical display” law that will allow America’s founding documents as well as the Ten Commandments and the Magna Carta to be posted at schools and other government buildings in addition to the courthouses as the original bill allowed.
The amended law introduced by State Rep. Tommy Benton (R, Jefferson, Dist. 31) allows the “Foundations of American Law & Government Display” to be publicly displayed in “all public buildings.”
The display includes the following documents:

The Ten Commandments
The Mayflower Compact, 1620
The Declaration of Independence
Magna Carta
‘The …

Abortion-Supporting Obama Makes Pregnant WH Visitors Register Unborn Baby as Separate Visitor
8 May 2012 6:35 pm Warner Todd Huston

It is interesting that the Obama White House, a place where everyone thinks a pre-born baby is just a lump of “unviable cells” and not really a person, is now insisting that pregnant mothers must register themselves and their unborn baby on the visitor log when they visit the White House.
As noted by Steven Ertelt,

The Director of the White House Visitor’s Office, Ellie Shafer, today distributed an email newsletter to members of Congress and others providing detailed instructions on how to register an unborn child (“a baby that has not …

Final Landing of the USS Enterprise
27 Apr 2012 4:21 pm Michael Fell

The experience of watching the space shuttle Enterprise circle New York City on its way to JFK Airport can be described in many different ways. One of the words viewers most frequently used about the sight was “bittersweet”. As Enterprise piggybacked its way on a 747 to its final landing, Americans turned out in large numbers to view the flight. The predominant mood was nostalgia.
Originally named the Constitution, the first space shuttle was re-named Enterprise, thanks largely to a huge write in campaign by fans of the enormously popular sci-fi …

No, Left-Wingers, the ‘Founders’ Did NOT Approve of Mandates or Obamacare
16 Apr 2012 12:51 pm Warner Todd Huston

Every few weeks leftist supporters of Obamacare will float the “fact” that our founders passed the first “national healthcare law” claiming that this supports Obamacare. The truth is, though, the history they claim supports them doesn’t in any way prove that the founders would approve of mandates in general or Obamacare in particular.
This failed historical analogy is once again seen this month in the prattling of one Einer Elhauge, a fellow who claims himself the title of a professor at Harvard Law School. If his recent article in The New …

The (Martin) Luther Insult Generator
15 Apr 2012 6:34 am Craig Newmark

Samples:
Your astute minds have been completely turned into stinking mushrooms.
Your home, once the holiest of all, has become the most licentious den of thieves, the most shameless of all brothels, the kingdom of sin, death, and hell. It is so bad that even Antichrist himself, if he should come, could think of nothing to add to its wickedness.

“13 People Who Came To America With Nothing And Made A Fortune”
17 Mar 2012 6:14 am Craig Newmark

Some inspiring examples.

The Gettysburg Address Today
2 Mar 2012 5:45 pm Michael Fell

On June 1, 1865, Senator Charles Sumner commented on what is now considered the most famous speech by President Abraham Lincoln. In his eulogy on the slain president, he called it a “monumental act.” He said Lincoln was mistaken that “the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here.” Rather, the Bostonian remarked, “The world noted at once what he said, and will never cease to remember it. The battle itself was less important than the speech.”
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on …

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Oscars, And the Death of Propriety
24 Feb 2012 12:59 pm Warner Todd Huston

Outrage of the day: The Academy Awards folks banned shock comedian Sacha Baron Cohen from its ceremonies this week. Then did only with caveats. Then didn’t know what to do. It all shows a certain death of propriety, not just in Hollywood (where its been dead a long time in most cases), but in the US in general.
This tempest in a teapot started when comedian Cohen asked the Academy if he could walk down the red carpet on his way into the Oscar Award ceremony in the full regalia of …

Tyranny
17 Feb 2012 2:44 pm Michael Fell

Of late, much has been made about the current administration’s attack on First Amendment Rights. Attacks have been made on religious liberties (see healthcare mandate on contraception in religious affiliated institutions)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/us/catholic-bishops-criticize-new-contraception-proposal.html
and freedom of the press (see White House and Media Matters coordinate attacks on FOX News)
http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/12/inside-media-matters-sources-memos-reveal-erratic-behavior-close-coordination-with-white-house-and-news-organizations/
While it may be correct to fight unconstitutional actions by this administration through continued pursuit of these specific issues, it might be wiser to focus on the bigger picture.

He has violated the individual liberties of all our people by imposing forced participation in a government …

“The 16 Greatest Cities In Human History”
11 Feb 2012 6:30 am Craig Newmark

Ayutthaya, the “world’s largest city in 1700 AD,” was new to me.

“Inside the Russian Short Wave Radio Enigma”
5 Feb 2012 5:55 am Craig Newmark

Interesting story.