Quillen’s wonderful defense of wonderful public employees.

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 9:49 am, March 6, 2011

Denver Post columnist Ed Quillen defends public workers in his column today. The headline is “Who are the overpaid parasites?” Not public employees, according to Ed. In support of his proposition, he lists several wonderful anecdotes of public employee…

Backbone Radio, March 6, 2011: McFarland; Ferrara

by Rossputin | 6:37 am, March 6, 2011

Audio archives for this show:

Segment 1 – KT McFarland on Libya, Bahrain, and Iran; Peter Ferrara on public sector unions
Segment 2 – More with Peter Ferrara; public sector unions and Obamacare
Segment 3 – Jimmy Sengenberger on life as a conservative (and radio talk show host) on a liberal college campus
Segment 4 – More with Jimmy Sengenberger
Segment 5 – News of the week: Lady Gaga, Sean Penn; Somali pirates; Bury them with bacon
Segment 6 – Brooks versus Huntington: “Clash of Civilizations”

From Ross Kaminsky:

Please join me for this Sunday’s edition of Backbone Radio on Newstalk 710 KNUS in Denver and 1460 KZNT in Colorado Springs from 5 PM to 8 PM.

In our first segment, our guest will be Fox News’ National Security Analyst KT McFarland. Ms. McFarland held national security posts in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan Administrations, and received the Defense Department’s highest civilian award.  We’ll discuss the Middle East, especially the critical areas which are simmering below the daily headlines, namely Bahrain and Iran, including Iran’s efforts to gain power and position by the current chaos.  We’ll also discuss whether David Brooks was correct in his dismissal of Samuel Huntington’s characterization of Arabs as pro-Islam rather than nationalistic.

For the rest of  our first hour, we’ll be joined by Peter Ferrara who is, among other things, a policy advisor for the Heartland Institute and a contributing columnist for Pajamas Media and the American Spectator. Peter served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He is author of The Obamacare Disaster, from the Heartland Institute, and President Obama’s Tax Piracy.

We’ll talk with Peter about the “Wisconsin Showdown” as well as the issue of Obama’s offering of state waivers to Obamacare – a subject on which I’ve also offered an opinion.

In the second hour of the show, Jimmy Sengenberger will join me in studio to talk about life as an outspoken conservative in a less-than-conservative university – a conservative with his own college radio show no less.  We’ll discuss how to engage more young people in politics, especially on the conservative/libertarian side as well as how some of the key issues of the day are particularly important to the current generation of young people.

In the third hour, we’ll talk more about current events, including the likelihood of a government shutdown and why it seems that pirates murder Americans and Europeans in the Indian Ocean with so little response by our governments.  Shouldn’t we be doing whatever it takes to make them realize that attacks on our people and interests will result in unendurable pain for the offenders?

Please join us by listening to (and calling in to) this week’s Backbone Radio program from 5 PM to 8 PM on 710 AM KNUS in Denver and 1460 AM KZNT in Colorado Springs.

If you’re not in range of the radio waves, you should be able to listen to the show online by clicking HERE.

I hope you’ll actively participate in the conversation with me: Call the studio at 303 696 1971, e-mail me at ross(at)backboneradio.net, or instant message from my site at http://rossputin.com or through AOL Instant messenger to screen name Rossputin.

“Son of Hamas”: Mosab Hassan Yousef Speaks in Littleton

by T.L. James | 3:30 pm, March 5, 2011

Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of Hamas founder and leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef, spoke in Denver on Feb. 10, 2011. He described his experiences as a Shin Beit informant within Hamas, his disillusionment with the movement and leadership among the Palestinians in general, and his optimism for peace in the Middle East.

Jimmy returns to "Backbone Radio" Sunday night at 6pm on AM 710

by Jimmy Sengenberger | 12:57 pm, March 5, 2011

Seng Center host Jimmy Sengenberger returns to AM 710 KNUS’s Backbone Radio with Ross Kaminsky of rossputin.com, during the second hour.The show begins at 5pm and the interview will take place at 6pm MTN (8pm EST). Denver-area listeners can tune in on …

Lincoln’s “Better Angels of Our Nature”: For Wisconsin 150 Years Later?

by Ben DeGrow | 5:17 pm, March 4, 2011

It’s easy to overlook, especially if you’re not a student of U.S. history. But once upon a time, before the ratification of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, presidents were inaugurated on March 4. Which makes today the sesquicentennial (that’s the 150th anniversary, for Buckeye fans) of Abraham Lincoln swearing the oath of presidential office [...]

DDos Attack On WordPress

by ToxicHypoxic | 3:28 pm, March 4, 2011

DDos continues this morning. Middle Eastern origins are suspected. Continue reading →

Business Investment: Willkie’s Lessons for Obama and Moore

by Ari Armstrong | 12:57 pm, March 4, 2011

Last month, Obama implored businesses to “get in the game” and increase investments; “now is the time to invest in America.”More recently leftist agitator Michael Moore said, “[Businesses are] sitting on the money, they’re using it for their own — the…

Colorado Considers “Parent Trigger,” California Parents Struggle to Keep It

by Eddie | 11:53 am, March 4, 2011

A couple weeks ago I told you that the “parent trigger” idea was coming up soon for consideration in the Colorado legislature, and dispelled any idea that it might have something to do with guns or horses. Remember? We’re talking about empowering parents to change low-performing schools so they can improve them. Ok, so now [...]

“Parent Trigger” Legislation to Transform Schools

by Jon Caldara | 10:59 am, March 4, 2011

Check out Devil’s Advocate tonight at 8:30 PM on Colorado Public Television 12 as I am joined by State Representative Don Beezley and the Independence Institute’s Ben DeGrow to discuss Don’s “parent trigger” legislation, which would empower parents to transform a low performing schools into a charter or innovation school. Re-broadcast the following Monday at [...]

The Medicaid Wrecking Ball: it busts state budgets

by Brian Schwartz | 6:30 am, March 4, 2011

Peter Suderman at Reason explains Medicaid is busting state budgets: Federal matching funds to states encourage eligibility expansion. More people qualify because of recession, but tax revenues are also down. Even Democrat governors are looking to limit eligibility.

Helpful solutions for cleaning up Madison

by Rossputin | 6:27 am, March 4, 2011

http://spectator.org/archives/2011/03/04/helpful-solutions-for-cleaning

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that “State officials said Thursday that damage to the marble inside and out the State Capitol would cost an estimated $7.5 million.”  Much of the damage isn’t actually chipping, cracking, etc., but residue from tape used to put up protest signs.  I have a few helpful suggestions designed to allow the state to avoid much or most of that cost.

First, if it could really cost that much money to remove some tape residue – even a lot of tape residue – the state must be using some sort of unionized labor to get the job done.  Instead, Governor Walker should get one expert on such cleanup, have him instruct any interested College Republicans in Wisconsin how to safely remove the residue from marble, and send the students out to do the job.  They’ll work for minimum wage and pizza (and beer when nobody is looking.)  I just saved Wisconsin $7 million.

Please read the entirety of my article – complete with several more excellent money-saving solutions for Wisconson – at the web site of the American Spectator:
http://spectator.org/archives/2011/03/04/helpful-solutions-for-cleaning

Citizens’ Budget Panel Event Audio

by Jon Caldara | 5:32 pm, March 3, 2011

On Wednesday March 2nd, the Independence Institute held a panel event at the University Club in Denver to discuss the solutions presented in the Citizens’ Budget project. Presenters included project director Penn Pfiffner, Education Center policy analyst Ben DeGrow, Health Care Policy Center director Linda Gorman, and Fiscal Policy Center senior fellow Barry Poulson. Each [...]

Colo. Springs Teachers Union Doesn’t Want to Open Negotiations: I Wonder Why?

by Eddie | 2:33 pm, March 3, 2011

Last week I told you that the Colorado Springs District 11 school board had voted to open union contract negotiations up for public observation. Today, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports that the CSEA (the local teachers union) has blackballed the idea:

The board of the Colorado Springs Education Association voted unanimously to turn down a request [...]

A quick hit on the Westboro Baptist Church decision…

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 11:18 am, March 3, 2011

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Westboro Baptist Church case is a loss for civility, good manners, politeness and basic decorum. Thank God the government is not in charge of enforcing any of those things.The case is an excellent example of why…

The poison bait of Obamacare waivers

by Rossputin | 6:40 am, March 3, 2011

The strings attached to President Barack Obama’s Monday offer to allow state waivers out of certain Obamacare requirements are designed to earn Obama political credit for appearing flexible while restraining states from actually implementing any programs that might avoid the fiscal train wreck imposed on them by Obamacare.

Please read my article laying out the details of why Republicans should stay far away from any such “waiver”:
http://spectator.org/archives/2011/03/02/waiver-goodbye-to-obama

HB-1205 Urgent item for action on concealed carry bill, act today!

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 4:44 pm, March 2, 2011

Now that Rep. Holbert’s HB-1205, “Concerning the authority of a law-abiding person to carry a concealed handgun without a permit,” has successfully passed the House, Senate President Brandon Shaffer must assign it to a Senate committee for review. Amo…

Colo. SB 11-168 admits that authoritarian “co-op” will kill jobs

by Brian Schwartz | 12:10 pm, March 2, 2011

Colorado SB 11-168 (text), which would create a tax-funded authoritarian health care cooperate that unfairly competes with insurance companies, admits that it will put people out of jobs. Section 10-16-1107 (yeah, really) reads: The [Board of Directors] shall design the Cooperative for Colorado in collaboration with parties that may be affected by the design and [...]

Colo. HB 11-1173: Daily Camera opposes licensing of naturapathic doctors

by Brian Schwartz | 7:00 am, March 2, 2011

Writing for the Boulder Daily Camera’s Editorial Board, Erika Stutzman admirably defends individual freedom & responsibly by opposing Colorado House Bill 11-1173, which would prohibit naturopathic physicians from practicing without a license.

2011 LPR Annual Retreat recap

by Rossputin | 6:04 am, March 2, 2011

The 2011 Leadership Program of the Rockies Annual Retreat was such a stunningly good event that I don’t know how Shari Williams, Crystal Bouziden, and Debbie Brown will surpass themselves next year.  They deserve (and have) the thanks of the roughly 700 attendees (an increase of about 40% over 2010!)

All the speakers were fantastic, including Brian Wesbury, KT McFarland, Grover Norquist, Stephen Hayes, Michelle Bernard, John Gizzi, and Ted Cruz.

Maybe a highlight point or two from each of them would be in order:

• Wesbury: Capitalism didn’t fail in the financial crisis; government did. Also, people who are in the welfare system but could be working and self-sufficient see “a little bit of their souls” die every day.
• McFarland: Isn’t it remarkable that our best hope for rational foreign policy, especially in the Middle East, comes from Hillary Clinton (whom McFarland ran against in 2006)?
• Norquist: Republicans who vote for tax hikes are like “a rat head in the bottom of a Coke bottle” in that they don’t just destroy that bottle but do great damage to the brand itself.
• Hayes: America has important interests in the various Arab uprisings, enough that we must keep “on the table” a wide range of options, including military, to help the anti-dictator reformers/rebels.  Also, he told of an interesting statement he heard from one of those rebel-reformers in Libya who said – and I won’t get this precisely correct but you’ll get the idea – that Americans should never again ask why the Arab world hates us, that President Bush (and to a much smaller degree President Obama) have encouraged pro-Democracy revolt in those nations only to have the US sit on its hands and watch the dictators kill their own people.
• Bernard: The Tea Party movement is in its own way a women’s movement, a fact which carries enormous political import if properly understood and acted upon by pro-liberty politicians and perhaps the Republican Party.
• Gizzi: DC is the “work-free drug place”. Failures of our intelligence agencies in the Middle East/North Africa show that our technical intelligence is at the “Jetsons level” but our human intelligence (observers/analysts in place) is at the “Flinstones level.”  Also, Republicans must avoid selecting a presidential candidate based on whose “turn” it is, as they did with Bob Dole and John McCain; instead the candidate must be someone who wins by articulating a conservative agenda.
• Ted Cruz: We’re seeing the Second Great American Awakening and are now engaged in “a great contest of ideas” between those who favor liberty and those who favor big government.  He got a big laugh when he said that politicians repeatedly disprove what we all learned in biology class: that invertebrates can’t walk upright.  Conservatives win when they effectively articulate their beliefs (much like Gizzi’s point), and “Progressives” win when they effectively obfuscate what they believe.

I should mention that Ted Cruz is an incredibly impressive guy and I think he’s likely to have a great political future.  He reminds me very much of Marco Rubio, and his accomplishments in our judicial system are on par with Utah Senator Mike Lee (who I think may already be our best US Senator.)

But my particular favorites among the Retreat speakers were (no surprise) Charles Krauthammer and Daniel Hannan.

Krauthammer suggested that we should be grateful to live during this historic “discussion” (at least historic in recent times) about the proper role of government, and how much we should appreciate being able to participate in perhaps returning America to the vision of its Founders which is, after all, what has made us the success and envy of the world.

Among the many insightful points Krauthammer made, perhaps the most interesting was in response to a question about who the Republican candidate for president should be.  It should be noted that I don’t recall Krauthammer mentioning any politician’s name other than Barack Obama’s during his entire talk, and he answered the question in a more general way.  I’ll get a word or two wrong, but the quote is substantially correct: “They should run someone dull and competent.” And further, “they should choose someone who won’t make the candidate the issue.”  In other words, Republicans should make sure the election is about “Obama and Obama-ism” rather than on a potentially polarizing or baggage-laden candidate.

While he mentioned no names, it seemed to all of the assembled that Krauthammer was imploring Republicans not to choose Sarah Palin or Newt Gingrich, and perhaps not Mitt Romney, but to look instead to figures more like Mitch Daniels or Tim Pawlenty.  Again, those were the inferences made by me and many others in the room whom I spoke with afterward; Krauthammer himself made no such specific suggestions.

As I had the chance to tell Mr. Krauthammer after his talk, I hope to be able to write half as well as he does when I grow up, though I fear that may be overly ambitious on my part.  The clarity of his thinking, the force and sheer intelligence of his words, are truly remarkable.  It was no surprise that the audience was so appreciative of his words that he said, perhaps only half-jokingly, “I should move here.”

Mr. Krauthammer is confined to a wheel chair, the result of a diving accident many year ago.  On the one hand, he does seem physically fragile.  On the other hand, one can’t help but think of a life of a person whose growth and “strength training” has by necessity been of his intellect rather than his quadriceps, and to marvel at how powerful a mind can be with such training. It was difficult not to feel like an intellectual underachiever in Krauthammer’s presence.

(For an interesting short biography of Charles Krauthammer, see HERE.)

My other favorite speaker was Daniel Hannan (see his blog here), a British member of the European Parliament.  Hannan is perhaps best known for his dressing down of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs

The LPR retreat has had a foreign speaker for at least each of the past three years.  Perhaps Americans find pro-American stances by non-Americans because we assume that their natural inclination is toward nationalism for their own nation and that they should be, as a starting point, neutral at best regarding the United States.  Thus, when someone like Daniel Hannan expresses such profound appreciation and respect for our nation, it carries particular weight.  Nothing stokes the fires of patriotism like someone from the country from which we rebelled telling us that our nation is particularly precious and its traditions worthy of defending.  Similarly to Hannan’s fellow Brit, James Dellingpole, whom I heard speak at the Heartland Institute’s Climate Change Conference last year, Hannah suggests that he’s seeing and living our future through the incredibly intrusive and over-reaching governments of the UK and particularly the EU, and that if we want our nation to remain as Reagan’s “shining city on a hill”, we must not follow Europe down that road.

And Hannan did exactly that, including noting that once a nation goes the way of the European “social democracy”, it’s incredibly difficult to roll it back, adding that “If you intend to repeal Obamacare, you should do it now.”

Thanks very much to the crew at the Peoples Press Collective for videoing the events and putting together this short video recap of many of the speakers.  It’s well worth your two minutes to give you a flavor of the inspirational and informational tone and content of the LPR Retreat:

I had the privilege of having dinner with Daniel Hannan, along with former Congressman Bob Schaffer and his better half, Maureen.  (I got prior approval from both Mr. Hannan and the Schaffer’s before making this note public.)

We had a great and wide-ranging discussion, much of which was about education – my wife and I have to seriously consider moving to the district where the Liberty Common School, of which Bob Schaffer is principal of the high school, is located.  Just hearing what and how they teach makes me wish I had been to their school in my youth, and inspires fear for the relatively poor quality education I expect my kids would get in most public schools.

Hannan is every bit as smart and well-spoken in a casual setting as when he’s speaking in Brussels, and we agreed on most things though he probably thinks I worry a little too much about radical Islamists in England while I think he worries somewhat too little.  Still, he made the important political point that of the handful of elected Muslim members of the British or European parliaments, he has yet to see one of them overtly support any radical agenda; instead, they’re focused on free trade or whatever the political issue of the day is.  Also, Hannan emphasized that western countries with relatively large Muslim populations would be making a huge mistake by driving “moderate” Muslims, which is to say most Muslim citizens of the UK, France, Germany, etc., into even partial sympathy with the radicals – a sympathy which Hannan thinks most of them do not hold right now.  I think he’s right on target.

Another interesting point of discussion which has potential parallels for the US was when I asked Hannah whether he thought the EU government would back away from supporting “green” initiatives after the disastrous outcomes in Spain and elsewhere, along with ClimateGate.  In short, he said no, that the EU government was looking at carbon taxes as a way to generate funding so the EU wouldn’t be completely reliant on money given by (taken from) individual European governments.  In other words, just as I believe is the true case for most supporters of carbon taxation and regulation here, it’s about power and money and not about climate or the environment.

On a personal note, I asked Daniel Hannan how he felt after his scathing words to Gordon Brown, what he thought to himself.  He said “I wondered what I was going to have for dinner,” noting that he has used a similar tone and similar language frequently during sessions of the European Parliament and that the only difference this time was Gordon Brown’s physical presence. This brought on an interesting realization from Bob Schaffer – something his experience as a congressman would have made more obvious to him than it was to me: how unusual it is for an American legislator ever to have the opportunity to address the American president in person and in public.  As Bob mentioned, perhaps the last interesting such confrontation was during the Obamacare “debate”, when Obama convened a meeting with Republican legislators and Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, now Chairman of the House Budget Committee, wiped the floor with Obama by presenting fact after fact contradicting Obama’s ridiculous assertions about his takeover of the American health insurance system.

I closed that part of our discussion by suggesting to Dan Hannan that he should be a little more proud of his talk, which I thought was the best three minutes in politics in quite a few years, not least because it was inspiring to many thousands of liberty -loving people on this side of the pond.  Hannan’s obviously honest modesty, even non-chalance, about it served most to remind me of how few courageous politicians we have at the federal level in this country, though the 2010 election certainly improved things with the victories of people like Utah Senator Mike Lee, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and Colorado’s own Congressman Cory Gardner – moving into his district would be another benefit of living in an area where my kids could attend the school which Bob Schaffer runs.

Finally, I’d take a moment to mention how much I enjoy being at an event with hundreds of fellow supporters of limited government, liberty, free markets, and personal responsibility.  Living where I live, I often feel somewhere between a loner and a leper when it comes to politics and it does my heart good to see the relatively well-known and the unknown sharing a couple of days of reveling in the things that have made – and with luck will again make – America the greatest nation in history.  When I’m at the LPR Retreat, I know deep down that all is not lost for this state or this nation; it recharges my batteries for blogging, writing columns, doing my radio show, and generally for fighting for America’s Founding Principles.

I hope many of my friends and readers will make every effort to attend next year’s Retreat.  Also, on a personal note, I’d like to add that I think LPR is the best investment I make in trying to “change the world” – by changing Colorado first.  With that in mind, and even though finances haven’t been fantastic in the past year, I committed to joining the “Chairman’s Circle” level of donor, and I’ll be making that gift within a few weeks.  I encourage all of you to donate, even if it’s a small amount, to LPR which, in my view, makes a bigger positive difference for Colorado than any other organization in the state.  (It was interesting to hear the Weekly Standard’s Steven Hayes say that an invitation to speak at the LPR Retreat is a badge of honor in his circles…) And of course, I encourage anyone who’s interested in being a leader in Colorado for liberty, limited government, and capitalism, to apply for the program.  Feel free to contact me or LPR staff if you have any questions about the program.

Have a Koch and a Smile

by T.L. James | 10:51 pm, March 1, 2011

As I predicted last year about this time, and as we saw at the union rallies over the past week, the Kochs are the new lefty boogeyman. Over at Powerline, John Hinderaker demolishes some of the latest bedwetting about the Nefarious Capitalist Kochs™: So, to sum up: Think Progress has come up with not a [...]

PPC Exclusive: LPR Retreat Highlights

by elpresidente | 8:52 pm, March 1, 2011

Videographer Drew McCullough has turned out a quick hit video of the Leadership Program of the Rockies retreat held this past weekend. You can check out Drew’s great work at his website.

Senate Dems Push for Single-Payer in Colorado

by PerlStalker | 8:06 pm, March 1, 2011

Because Colorado doesn’t have enough financial problems, Senate Democrats are proposing pushing Colorado to a single-payer health care system. This will die in the House thanks to a Republican majority. It just goes to show that there are Democrats tha…

Colorado Cyberschools Day at the Capitol 2011: Did Anyone See Me There?

by Eddie | 5:11 pm, March 1, 2011

Last Thursday a couple of my Education Policy Center friends took part in the Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families Day at the Capitol event. Although a bit cold and windy in Denver, it was a great time to see hundreds of students, parents and teachers show up and make a statement about what public [...]

Ross on Caplis and Silverman this afternoon

by Rossputin | 4:23 pm, March 1, 2011

I’ll be a guest on Denver’s Caplis and Silverman radio show this afternoon at 4:47 PM talking about my column for the American Spectator on American policy reaction to the protests in the Arab world and the comparisons between Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter.

Bernanke says GOP budget cut propsal will not harm growth

by Rossputin | 1:34 pm, March 1, 2011

Very good news for Republican budget hawks:

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/801-economy/146705-bernanke-says-house-republican-plan-would-have-small-effect-on-growth

Keep in mind when you read anything from Mark Zandi, the economist at Moody’s, that he’s been a supporter of Barack Obama’s so-called “stimulus” plan and seems to buy into the fiction of Keynesian economics.

Zandi was a big donor to far-left Democrat Joe Sestak (who lost a senate race to Pat Toomey) as well as to liberal Democrat Doug Pike, who lost his Democratic congressional primary to some other lib who then lost to the incumbent Republican. Interestingly, Zandi was a big donor to John McCain’s presidential campaign (perhaps showing that even economists thought McCain was no economic conservative).

Speaking to Boulder County Republican Breakfast tomorrow

by Rossputin | 12:15 pm, March 1, 2011

On Wednesday, March 2nd, I’ll be speaking to and with the Boulder County Republican breakfast club at 7 AM (yep, 7 AM) at the Longmont IHOP at 2040 Ken Pratt Blvd (Hwy 119), just east of Hover Road and the Diagonal Highway.

I’ll be talking about “The Tea Party versus The Establishment” as well as offering some thoughts on current events.

There’s a $10 charge to attend, which includes breakfast.

I hope to see those of you who don’t live too far away and could make a meeting that early.

In the Face of Huge Budget Cuts, Alamosa Schools Wants to Build a Stadium

by PerlStalker | 8:22 am, March 1, 2011

How can you tell when your school district isn’t suffering due to budget cuts and the lack of funds? They pull something like this. The Alamosa School District wants to build a new sports complex complete with artificial turf and stadium lights for nig…

Last WWI veteran dies at age of 110

by Rossputin | 7:28 am, March 1, 2011

http://www.redstate.com/bk/2011/02/28/our-last-wwi-vet-passes-away-at-age-110/

Even the liberals know Barack Obama = Jimmy Carter

by Rossputin | 7:21 am, March 1, 2011

On Monday’s edition of CNN’s “Situation Room”, host Wolf Blitzer and political analyst Gloria Borger discussed President Barack Obama’s response to the situation in Libya, bringing unwitting clarity to the issue Barack Obama’s projected and real weakness.

First, they wondered aloud how it could have been that Barack Obama would come out relatively quickly against Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak who, while not a paragon of democratic virtue, was nevertheless an important and mostly reliable ally of the US and partner in peace with Israel for three decades, but stay silent about Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi for nearly two weeks.  Gaddafi is a man who has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and other westerners and who doesn’t even have allies in the Arab world.

Instead of running a country, Gaddafi should have long ago been executed for murder. He’s unbalanced, apparently delusional, and murdering his own people.  But the Obama administration said nothing until days of Libyan blood in the streets against this dictator.  The inconsistency and poor judgment of Obama which Blitzer and Borger point to is something that even the left, but especially the critically important independent voters can’t help but notice.

Please read the rest of this article at the web site of the American Spectator:
http://spectator.org/archives/2011/03/01/barack-carter-obama-is-back

ObamaCare still bad: Cato Institute updates Bad Medicine

by Brian Schwartz | 6:28 am, March 1, 2011

The Cato Institute has published an updated version of “Bad Medicine: A Guide to the Real Costs & Consequences of the New Health Care Law.” It will increase increase taxes, insurance premiums, “stage for government rationing & interference with how doctors practice medicine,” & make many people’s health plan illegal.

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