Bikini Politics

Creeping Socialism Watch Vol. #743985Baffillion

With this latest regulatory grab instituting control over compensation decisionmaking at not only government-owned industries but those merely subject to regulation, the administration seeks to impose more and more control over independent business judgment of risk, individually-negotiated compensation agreements, and who knows what next.  There is a reason competition works, and it's partly because individuals take calculated risks in the marketplace.  When the government steps in to "correct" these risks, the result is not competition.  It's a dramatically less efficient marketplace..... Besides, we don't really have enough money to fund a regulator to sit over the shoulder of every bank teller.  This is getting ridiculous. See a fuller description latest here.

Obamanomics: An Obamination

I am beginning to sound like a one-note fiddle, I know.  But I can't pretend that the thought of an economy strangled by debt for the next decades doesn't scare me.  I know it sounds pretty to guarantee new fully-funded entitlements, but the President and Democrats in Congress don't seem to realize we haven't yet funded the old ones in any sustainable way.  Each new false promise throws more and more debt upon the young and the children of the young, guaranteeing that they will be crippled with debt even as they try to compete in an increasingly crowded global marketplace.  Even decades ago, Reagan knew this wasn't possible: crushing taxes will strangle the very innovations and investments we need to make to compete and survive.

And if you don't buy my story, check this guy's-- James Pethokoukis has a great column today that all y'all should read!  

Happy Birthday Maggie!

In honor of Margaret Thatcher, let's all take a moment and follow her lead to oppose government over-intervention in the economy.  And after we've all called our congressional representatives, let's go stare down socialism.  You know, for fun.

Popularity and Promises

More and more I get the feeling the President is running for Global Prom King.  The trip to Copenhagen was just the latest in his global prom king campaign, which began with the trip to Berlin and hasn't stopped since. The problem with this style of leadership is that while it tastes great, it is less filling.  When the people are told every thirty minutes that the President is leading us to a "watershed" "critical" "pivotal" moment... we may begin to expect a pivot. Yet, in so many ways, the promises of the President quickly turn themselves on their head.  See, for example, this mordant column: Barack W. Bush.

I have my own issues with the policies of the President.  But even those on his side must find it frustrating when they find themselves forced to ask, as Krauthammer does today, "Does anything he says remain operative beyond the fading of the audience applause?"

Leading Hope Indicators: Starbucks Edition

Starbucks has recently put up an ad for its new instant coffee product, featuring a parody of a person standing up and getting mad at a healthcare town hall. Obviously, Starbucks is making fun of conservatives and people who don't want bureaucrats making their healthcare decisions.

Now let me tell you why this could be a good thing.

This means that an image of an American protesting to his government, engaging in public debate, is a sufficiently recognizable image that it can be parodied with success to a broad-based audience.  The health care town halls captured the attention of enough of the public that we now recognize an iteration of this image, without overt reference.  Although people might engage in pissing contests about how many people went to a rally, or whose polling data trumps whose, we can't deny that advertising is the language of our popular culture-- and policy debate is now a part of it.

Blind Love: Young People and Obama

Shameless plug alert: Over at the great new website for conservative women, AmericanMaggie.com, I've written an article about young people and Obama.  Check it out!

And now that my shameless plug is over, I'd like to recommend that you all add American Maggie to your regular reading, it's a great outlet for a voice that too often doesn't get heard: conservative commentary from women.  

Simple Answers

Reading Maureen Dowd this morning it seemed like she was in the throes of a deep love-hate fest with Sarah Palin.  Palin had Dowd so tied up in knots, she turned poor Dowd into a parody of herself. 

Meanwhile everyone looks for the deeper story-- is she pregnant? When will the shoe drop? What big scandal or dark evil genius plan for 2012 lurks?

This all seems a bit overwrought.  As Adam Nagourney points out, there may be no big scandal or evil genius plan.  Just mounting bills and an opportunity to pay them, while perhaps protecting her family from what the French would call "le media shitstorm" that follows them. 

Well played, Mr. Nagourney.  Read the whole thing here: http://bit.ly/41DZJ

2009-05-18T19:14:24Z

Good Manners.

My mother always said, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.  She also said, dance with the one who brung ya.

Therefore thinking of my mother today as Senator Specter switches parties, I say the only nice thing I can think: Senator Specter.  A man who can count to 60...

Above: Sen. Specter, Counting to 60 using Both Hands and his Eyeglasses.

Right-Wing Guerrillas-- in Cambridge??