"U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards on Thursday blasted News Corp.'s plan to buy the Wall Street Journal as stifling independent voices and called on rivals to refuse donations from the media conglomerate he says is biased against Democrats."
On the other hand, the New York Times is a bastion of independent voices and has no bias? I'm pretty sure Murdoch can't be much worse than Sulzberger when it comes to bias. But consider this: if Murdoch is so biased against Democrats, why would he have donated to their campaigns? It does not follow that Murdoch is biased against Democrats if he infuses their candidates with cash, does it?
Saturday, August 4, 2007
McCain raps Congress for bridge collapse - Yahoo! News
"'We spent approximately $20 billion of that money on pork barrel, earmark projects,' said McCain. 'Maybe if we had done it right, maybe some of that money would have gone to inspect those bridges and other bridges around the country. Maybe the 200,000 people who cross that bridge every day would have been safer than spending $233 million of your tax dollars on a bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it.'"
His Alaska nonsense aside, the Senator makes a fine point when confined to the state of Minnesota. The federal government funds building infrastructure at 80%, and states fund remaining 20% and the upkeep. The federal government can't tell the states how to prioritize their maintenance projects, though. This federalist notion is often lost on our leaders, particularly on the Alaska bridge point. There is absolutely nothing wrong with building a new bridge in order to expand growth and development in an otherwise remote region of our country. Many of our existing bridges and roads were built before the populations they serve today became a reality. Minnesota, on the other hand, had that bridge at such a low position on the priority list that even with a significant increase in maintenance funds would not have resulted in the necessary repairs. Where the Senator is correct, though, is on the matter of earmark projects and their priority. Like this nonsense Rep. Murtha recently wrought.
His Alaska nonsense aside, the Senator makes a fine point when confined to the state of Minnesota. The federal government funds building infrastructure at 80%, and states fund remaining 20% and the upkeep. The federal government can't tell the states how to prioritize their maintenance projects, though. This federalist notion is often lost on our leaders, particularly on the Alaska bridge point. There is absolutely nothing wrong with building a new bridge in order to expand growth and development in an otherwise remote region of our country. Many of our existing bridges and roads were built before the populations they serve today became a reality. Minnesota, on the other hand, had that bridge at such a low position on the priority list that even with a significant increase in maintenance funds would not have resulted in the necessary repairs. Where the Senator is correct, though, is on the matter of earmark projects and their priority. Like this nonsense Rep. Murtha recently wrought.
Clinton slams Bush over law enforcement - Yahoo! News
"'It's really a sad day when the president can find more than $450 billion to wage the war in Iraq but he can't find the money that you need to protect our communities and to have decent wages and working conditions,' [Sen. Hillary Clinton] said."
First, I think Congress funds both of those operations. Second, under the Constitution the federal government's role is to provide for the national defense and not local law enforcement. Third, I've yet to see the price tag for the US aerial occupation of Iraq from 1991 to 2003, but I am pretty sure we burned through a lot of cash drilling holes in the skies over the region 'containing' Hussein. I'd be interested to see an honest comparison of those costs.
First, I think Congress funds both of those operations. Second, under the Constitution the federal government's role is to provide for the national defense and not local law enforcement. Third, I've yet to see the price tag for the US aerial occupation of Iraq from 1991 to 2003, but I am pretty sure we burned through a lot of cash drilling holes in the skies over the region 'containing' Hussein. I'd be interested to see an honest comparison of those costs.
House approves new oil company taxes - Yahoo! News
"Declaring a new direction in energy policy, the House on Saturday approved $16 billion in taxes on oil companies, while providing billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives for renewable energy and conservation efforts."
We are one step closer to gas lines of the 1970s.
We are one step closer to gas lines of the 1970s.
Democrats court liberal bloggers
"One thing most bloggers have in common — regardless of their political leanings — is an intense frustration with the political establishment. And so it was a convention dripping in irony when liberal bloggers welcomed the living symbols of the Democratic status quo — seven presidential candidates. ... 'A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans, they actually do,' [Sen. Hillary] Clinton said, drawing boos and hisses from liberal bloggers at the second Yearly Kos convention."
Irony, indeed. The Nutroots boo the right to petition our government... the stuff of the 1st Amendment!
Irony, indeed. The Nutroots boo the right to petition our government... the stuff of the 1st Amendment!
Lieberman escalates attack on Iraq critics
TheHill.com - Lieberman escalates attack on Iraq critics:
"Lieberman says he is annoyed by the mudslinging on Capitol Hill and Democrats’ unwillingness to work with President Bush. But his critics say he has contributed to that polarization by his rhetoric and refusal to compel Bush to find a new way forward in Iraq.
As Lieberman sees it, however, the Democratic Party has slipped away from its “most important and successful times” of the middle of last century, where it was tough on Communism and progressive on domestic policy."
"Lieberman says he is annoyed by the mudslinging on Capitol Hill and Democrats’ unwillingness to work with President Bush. But his critics say he has contributed to that polarization by his rhetoric and refusal to compel Bush to find a new way forward in Iraq.
As Lieberman sees it, however, the Democratic Party has slipped away from its “most important and successful times” of the middle of last century, where it was tough on Communism and progressive on domestic policy."
Friday, August 3, 2007
A Statement on Scott Thomas Beauchamp
A Statement on Scott Thomas Beauchamp:
"Late last week, the Army began its own investigation, short-circuiting our efforts. Beauchamp had his cell-phone and computer taken away and is currently unable to speak to even his family. His fellow soldiers no longer feel comfortable communicating with reporters. If further substantive information comes to light, TNR will, of course, share it with you."
The New Republic seems begrudged by the Army's public relations policy. The Strategic Private probably should have stuck to his job rather than playing war correspondent. Michael Yon already has that well covered for us.
"Late last week, the Army began its own investigation, short-circuiting our efforts. Beauchamp had his cell-phone and computer taken away and is currently unable to speak to even his family. His fellow soldiers no longer feel comfortable communicating with reporters. If further substantive information comes to light, TNR will, of course, share it with you."
The New Republic seems begrudged by the Army's public relations policy. The Strategic Private probably should have stuck to his job rather than playing war correspondent. Michael Yon already has that well covered for us.
FOXNews.com - House Devolves Into Verbal Fracas
FOXNews.com - House Devolves Into Verbal Fracas
"The House nearly grinded to a halt Friday as Republicans and Democrats continued to feud over a screwball vote from Thursday and the electronic voting system went down later in the day."
Wasn't too long ago that the word "Plantation" was used by Dems to describe Republican leadership in the House. Sounds as though the progressive leadership has made it more a "slave ship" operation. Could the Democrat leadership be any more churlish and despotic than to avoid pesky parliamentary processes to get the results they want? Hardly.
"The House nearly grinded to a halt Friday as Republicans and Democrats continued to feud over a screwball vote from Thursday and the electronic voting system went down later in the day."
Wasn't too long ago that the word "Plantation" was used by Dems to describe Republican leadership in the House. Sounds as though the progressive leadership has made it more a "slave ship" operation. Could the Democrat leadership be any more churlish and despotic than to avoid pesky parliamentary processes to get the results they want? Hardly.
From Chicago! - Nutroots Candidates' Celebration
I've decided to begin a blog to observe the Nutroot bloggers around the web. We've all seen these guys over at dailykos.com and at other sites, and I think the net is listing to the left a bit. That's right, the weight and balance of the WWW is off. When the Democratic Leadership Council gets snubbed in favor of the Kos Netroots (sic) folks' YearlyKos convention, things are bad. When Progressives take over the Democrat party from the Liberals (yes, there is a difference and P is far left of the L here) and the Nuts from around the web drag the party further left, we have a situation. So, we need to talk. That's what this blog is about. A daily dose of conservative thought. We will talk more about this non-ideology later.
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