Great Editorial Cartoon

Sometimes, a picture really is worth 1,000 words. This one says a lot about the reality of it:

Michael Ramirez does fine work. He appears in the Investors Business Daily, a fine newspaper if there ever was one.

(h/t Duncan Adams)

Poor Winners

I generally dislike end-zone celebrations after a touchdown. I can see some exuberance after a score, especially one to end a long drive, or on a play where several tackles were broken. In that case, go ahead- spike the ball.

I prefer guys like Barry Sanders or Steve Largent- pros who acted like they had been to the end zone a hundred times in their life. When they scored, they didn't taunt or do a dance. They handed the ball to the ref and trotted off the field.

Now that the Democrats have elected a President and re-elected a Democratic Congress, the gloves are off among leftward bloggers and pundits, revelling in the kind of infantile and mean-spirited name calling reserved those not used to winning. They not only have spiked the ball, but they're in the face of the other side.

It's hard to even read a left blog these days. Mostly, it's the followers and their comments, but sometimes the bloggers themselves. I've pretty well had it with anyone, left or right, who uses the terms, 'wingnut' (as though they could only be right-wing-nuts, and not left-wing-nuts), moonbat, righttard, lefttard, Paultard (or anything-tard, for that matter). You generally need not go more than two posts deep to see it. Shallow posts with ad hominem attacks and name calling, or even goofy pictures, rule the day.

There were many messages Obama put out, won support for, and was elected on. Apparently, his message of inclusive government was not one of them. It seems to have been ignored by the dyed-in-the-wool Democrats. It's too bad, because both Democrats and Republicans have something to offer. As a Libertarian, that's plain to see, because I share many things with each camp. Maybe that's what two party dominance has caused- a great 'my team's way or the highway' antipathy for the other side.

Obama's position is correct. I wouldn't mind seeing some display of it by his choir.

Podcast Update

I have now conducted two interviews for the Libertarian Party of Indiana's Weekly Podcast- one with LPIN Chair Todd Singer, and now newly elected Marion County Chair Timothy Maguire. Both had great insights to share, and I really appreciate their willingness to visit me in my 'home studio'.

Bugs are getting worked out. My recording of Singer is sub-par, in that his volume levels are far too low. That has been corrected with the Maguire interview. I am very satisfied with that latter recording, which is unusual for me. I usually am not comfortable with my newer productions until they've been tweaked for months. Chalk it up to old age and experience.

Here is the link to the podcasts. You can subscribe and have them automatically downloaded to your iTunes as new episodes are released. 

I have to say, as a subscriber to about a half dozen podcasts, I get a real kick out of seeing one I've produced line up in the 'Downloads' queue on iTunes.

I'm open to suggestion for interview subjects or topics to cover. Obviously, the news writes itself, and the bailouts and economy are on the top of my list. Where else should I turn?

Big Surprise

So, when the libertarians were saying that losers shouldn't be bailed out, because bailouts allieve them of pain, and cause them not to revise bad decision making, this is one of the things we were talking about. From the NY Post:

High-flying Citigroup executives, trying desperately to hang on to their new, $50 million luxury jet, took heavy flak yesterday from the White House and Congress after The Post revealed how the beleaguerred bank is blowing taxpayers' rescue funds.

What to say to the Congress and Obama? "Well, you voted for it!"

If they want to blame someone, they need to rush to the nearest mirror.

To repeat, if you want to stop bad decision-making, stop rewarding bad decision-making. It really, truly is that simple.

Legislative Review

The Libertarian Party of Indiana has been reviewing legislation being proposed in the state House & Senate for the past several sessions, and 2009 is no exception. A slew of bills have already been reviewed, and while the cynic might expect Libertarians to be opposed to all of them, there are several bills the Party backs.

I like the new changes. It is still a blog format, but includes room for comments, and also a quick checkoff for 'agree' or 'disagree'.

Check it out here.

One thing I am doing is adding the LPIN Legislative Review to my 'Hot Off The Press" item, at the right. Readers here can see the latest review, and click through.