Update

Now posting at Accountingbum.com/wp.
Class listing at Accountingbum.com.

Haiku

Heard on KSFO this morning:

Islamofacist,
With two five-hundred pound bombs
Zarqawi is dead.

Conservatism

Kim du Toit:

Libertarianism is contrary to conservatism, not its first cousin. There are issues that overlap, there might even be some common issues (and much fewer than most libertarians believe withal), but the way in which one determines the right or wrong side of an issue also determines whether one is a libertarian or a conservative.

Libertarians decide issues using the criterion: "Will it increase or decrease individual freedom?"

If it decreases individual freedom, they are against it, almost regardless of the consequences to society as a whole.

Conservatives decide on matters using the criterion: "Will it improve or damage our society?"

I couldn't define it better. I sometimes define myself as a conservative with libertarian leanings. And though I like "Atlas Shrugged", I definitely have not flittered with becoming a Randite. But libertarianism (and libertarians) certainly have a place and a purpose.

As they say, read the whole thing.

Katrina Superdome

Real Clear Politics:

"TV of the Superdome was perplexing to most folks," Thompson said. "You had them playing the tapes of the same incidents over and over, it tends to bias your thinking some, you tend to think it's worse than it really is." Official estimates at this point suggest the Guard, working from the Dome, saved 17,000 by air and uncounted thousands more by boat.

Let's try that again: The cavalry wasn't late. It didn't arrive on Thursday smoking a cigar and cussing. It was there all along.

The National Guard's response to Katrina was even more robust than I suspected in my reporting for RealClearPolitics in September, and in more detail for National Review, where I revealed for the first time that rescue operations saved up to 50,000 lives, with perhaps an equal number making their way to shelters on their own.

I've stopped buying a paper, mostly because I don't want to pay to be lied to. I read blogs and news/opinion internet sites, listen to talk radio, and watch Brit Hume on Tivo; I figure anything of national or international importance I will find out about.

And I won't have to spend as much time figuring out whose lying about what.

Amnesty

There is a lot of push (and push back) for the idea that Bush's immigration policy, and the plans proposed in the Senate are not amnesty. They are not "technically" amnesty towards citizenship, though tell that to my Mother who had to jump through more hoops than in the non-amnesty proposals.

But it is absolutely amnesty for the real goal of all illegals, the right to live and work here. And under all plans, including no plan, their children are citizens.

Dead Plan Walking

I'm not sure what was new in Bush's speech. Everybody is talking about Bush putting the Guard on the border, as if that was a new idea. In a "support" role for one year no less. I couldn't imagine how Bush could demonstrate more seriousness about getting tough. Except, oh, an actual (not virtual fence.

My prediction, if this passes its 1986 all over again.

Kiddie Time

After an 18 page letter from the nutter president of Iran:

Albright Suggests Direct Talks With Iran

This is why the Democrats can't be trusted with foreign policy. It was one thing when we all thought that we were retiring (or at least vacationing) from History, but since 9/11 it's time for adult supervision.

Shall Issue

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