Countdown to 11/06/2012

It's ELECTION TIME!

Ok, we may have other things to do now rather than argue about politics, but surely, with just days to go, every one of you has an opinion.  

Take a few minutes and share it, and let the rest of us know you're still out there.

Texas Selects a New Guy

Texas just held a US Senate Republican run-off, you might have heard, and elected a new guy by the name of Ted Cruz.   There's been a bit about it in the media, mostly written by people who have rarely actually been in Texas, but I found this one by a guy in Dallas that I thought was pretty close to my personal interpretation of the reasons why Cruz won.  This is not a Tea-Party triumph, although the Tea Party does gain momentum and credibility from it.

Boy what a difference 5 years can make...

(Promoted to the front page - PF)

Hi All...



Sure is great to see all the familiar faces still in the mix!



Just wanted to share with you how things have changed for me;


I began coming here in '07 I believe, and as I had been for some 25 years prior to that I was a pretty hard core conservative.


Open Thread . . . With Links!

Found anything interesting in your travels around the internets?   It's election year and there's bound to be stuff that is  "Hey, read this!" worthy.   So share!  This is an open thread.

Basic Economic Thinking Demystifies Complex Economic Problems

My first and best economics "teacher", Henry Hazlitt, who wrote the classic "Economics in One Lesson" back in the 1940s graced the pages of the WSJ the other day with two very relevant paragraphs to explain bubbles. His entire book forms the foundation of how my brain perceives economic phenomena. The mind-numbing crap that passes for basic econ in high school and college textbooks and forms the popular conception of what economics  is all about came across my eyes after I read Hazlitt. 

Election Year means Politics. And Politics represents the worst in Human Thinking.

As Obama looks forward with the prospects of facing Romney, his team is in search of some policy initiatives to build a campaign narrative around. Enter, the Buffett Rule. 


SCOTUS Healthcare Debate: Argumentation is Clear: Constitution vs. Desired Outcomes

It's truly remarkable. Regardless of what your personal or ideological feelings are about ObamaCare's mandate and overall plan, there is no denying that the arguments among the Justices in this article:  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jVI-5FrT9rnC_jcuPxybOarMs47w?docId=00c0c0d18d914f6a80d3a6d43431c7c3  make it clear that "constitutional law" is not the point of debate between the factions.

Supreme Court and Obamacare

For a long time I've been conflicted over the issue of Individual Mandates and Obamacare. Over the years I've transitioned to a view that Healthcare should be provided to all citizens, regardless of their ability to pay, but I have never been sure of the best way to provide it. But I also believe that Free Market should be a part of any solution, followed by extra money equaling better care. Single Payer in my mind is a Big Government solution that tramples on the Free Market and its implementation in countries like Canada leave a lot to be desired. 

There are other options of course that provide Healthcare for all, without being Single Payer, in Civilized countries, but I do not know which route is best.

Opponents of Social Injustice/Intolerance and Socialists/Social Democrats

Why can't they be mutually exclusive?? 


Why are vocal members of the former always inclined to the latter?

It's an all-too-common thing that has exasperated me for years. 

The end result is that it puts the two things I dislike the most, social conservatism (and the American Exceptionalism, tribalism, muted racism and Jingoism that go with it) and Socialism (and all its warmed over "lite" versions and moderations) on opposing sides when I wish they would just be parts of the same unsavory coalition. ;-)

Occupy Protester Almost Makes Bank CEO Look Sympathetic

I saw a story that Occupy protesters were picketing outside the home of the CEO of Wells Fargo today. Little did I know that after I read the story, I'd actually almost think that the CEO ought to be picketing one of the protesters!

What caught my eye was the fact that the protester interviewed for a story in the San Francisco Business Times was protesting because she had been foreclosed on her second home:

Are certain pollsters trying to drive the narrative instead of being honest?

I am not sure whether all polls should be taken at face value. I've been quite suspicious ever since I saw the ridiculous PPP national poll - 
Romney 23, Santorum 38, Gingrich 17, Paul 13  - from 2/11. It was not even close to the 2 other major national polls. Fox News from 2/10 has 
Romney 33, Santorum 23, Gingrich 22, Paul 15 , while Gallup Tracking has been in the field every day and on 2/12 is showing 
Romney 34, Santorum 27, Gingrich 16, Paul 8 .

Hey, it's 2012 already-Sure would be great to see the site get busy again!

Hello all! Hope everyone is well!

Does Obama = Jimmy Carter?

In a stroke of irony I have a post on my blog which considers whether Obama = Jimmy Carter.  Read the full story there .

So why is this ironic?  Because I personally have been arguing here that Obama = George W. Bush .  :)

Activist EPA Endangers Energy Freedom, Drives Business Abroad

Cross posted from The Right Counterpoints - GoRight

This is yet another example of how the EPA under the Obama Administration has become an activist organization which is working against the interests of the United States.

Gas Prices Hit $5 per Gallon on Obama's Watch

A combination of Obama's energy policies which keep us dependent on foreign oil coupled with speculation over the unrest in the Middle East have caused gas prices to skyrocket to record highs.

EDITORIAL: Gas prices and the Gulf oil spill

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