Category Archives: News

Why do conservatives hate government but blindly trust the police?

I was delighted yesterday to see Glenn Reynolds linking to libertarian writer Radley Balko’s Reason article about the Cambridge kerfuffle (a.k.a. Gates-gate). Balko shifts the focus away from race, which is really a sideshow in this particular case, to where it rightfully belongs: police abuse of power. And, while acknowledging that Gates seems to have acted boorishly, Balko criticizes Crowley… Read more »

One last time

      10 Comments on One last time

So long, Governor Palin. Your supporters will miss you — as will your detractors. For instance, I’ll miss having the opportunity to randomly post this graphic: But alas! I understand: you don’t want the “title” of governor to interfere with the important work of using dishonest, propagandistic nonsense to inflame the ignorant masses. That would be “politics as usual”! After… Read more »

An anthem for the birthers

      1 Comment on An anthem for the birthers

Jon Stewart eviscerates the suddenly-prominent birther movement: Has Colbert done a segment on these clowns yet? It seems right up his alley. Meanwhile, as I was writing this post’s title, and contemplating whether “birthers” should be capitalized or not, I was reminded of the term “Birchers” — as in, the John Birch Society — which, of course, reminded me of… Read more »

My former state rep is a birther

      7 Comments on My former state rep is a birther

When Becky and I lived in Knoxville, we resided in the heavily Republican 18th legislative district of Tennessee, a.k.a. “the fightin’ 18th,” which is represented by the ultraconservative — and endlessly controversial — Stacey Campfield (who is a man). Campfield is many things: a blogger (albeit a somewhat notoriously sloppy one, in terms of spelling and grammar); a classic car… Read more »

That’s the way it was

      Comments Off on That’s the way it was

As you probably already know, today is the 40th anniversary of the first Moon landing — arguably mankind’s greatest achievement (though, as Conan O’Brien pointed out, putting cheese inside the pizza crust is surely a close second). In honor of the anniversary, Mac OS X, iPhone and iPod touch users can download Carina’s SkyGazer astronomy application, free for today only…. Read more »

Your daily dose of panic & alarmism…

      11 Comments on Your daily dose of panic & alarmism…

…is brought to you by William R. Forstchen, author of One Second After — a novel about an electromagnetic pulse that plunges America into third-world chaos (with a foreward by Newt Gingrich!) — who offers this helpful step-by-step guide to how we’re all completely screwed if (nay, when!) terrorists unleash E.M.P. hell. And you were worried about swine flu? (Hat… Read more »

Sonia Sotomayor and the moral high ground

Conservative blogger William A. Jacobson of Legal Insurrection says Yes to Sotomayor. (Hat tip: InstaPundit.) I haven’t watched the hearings — I’ve been, er, a little busy — but based on what I know, I’m inclined to agree: conservatives should vote “Yes.” Not because of ethnic politics, nor for reasons of short-term political preservation, but as a matter of principle,… Read more »

The de-evolution of the Right

      24 Comments on The de-evolution of the Right

I missed blogging during my seven-month absence, but one reason I didn’t miss it as much as I otherwise might have is because of a sentiment perfectly summed up yesterday by an Andrew Sullivan reader: During the months that have passed since John McCain “tapped” Sarah Palin to be his running mate, I’ve had more and more trouble reconciling the… Read more »

Peggy gets it

      2 Comments on Peggy gets it

Peggy Noonan has an unfortunate and well-documented history of doubletalk when it comes to Sarah Palin, but as last fall’s campaign wore on, the scales ultimately fell decisively from her eyes. Now, in her column today, she produces what I believe may be the seminal diss of Palin, explaining precisely and devastatingly why the unthoughtful, frivolous soon-to-be-ex-governor of Alaska “was… Read more »

Play her off, keyboard cat

      Comments Off on Play her off, keyboard cat

At dinner with the fam last night, we toasted the memory of Sarah Palin’s political career. (“May it rest in peace,” Ted offered.) Well, here’s a video expressing essentially the same sentiment, via possibly the dumbest Internet meme ever invented — keyboard cat — in one of its rare, actually appropriate uses. “Play her off,” indeed. Enjoy: (Via Enlightened Despot.)