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2.29.00
It's leap day and my computer is still running. Good thing I'm not in
Japan.
I've been out of commission with one of the nastiest flu bugs I've had in a long time.
China's threatening to nuke the U.S. again. If the U.S. gets involved with defending Taiwan, China could launch a "strategic counterattack."
How ungrateful, first the Clinton administration gives the Chinese our nuke secrets, then they threaten us with weapons derived from them. How rude!
"China Threatens U.S. with Missile Strike":
http://www.washtimes.com/world/news3-02292000.htm
2.27.00
I'm sure you're tired of high gasoline prices. Instead of checking out Priceline.com's latest
idea, stand up with
Sen. Campbell (R-CO) and demand a reduction in federal gas taxes.
"Campbell to File Fuel Price Relief Bill in the Senate":
http://www.washtimes.com/business/news6-02242000.htm
2.26.00
Randal O'Toole comments on the EPA's secret propaganda campaign against the car.
"EPA Funds Anti-Sprawl Politics with Tax Dollars":
http://www.cato.org/dailys/02-25-00.html
2.25.00
More troops are headed to Kosovo. FreeB92 News reports "[the NATO] Council declared that its
European Commander Wesley
Clark had been authorised to use strategic reserves of about 7,000 troops
currently deployed in Macedonia, Albania and Greece. One official told media
in Brussels that members of the Alliance had also offered Clark three
additional battalions of about 2,000 troops which would be ready for
immediate posting to Kosovo." Slowly, NATO is getting more involved in an ethnic conflict that
is of little interest to the security of NATO.
"NATO commits troops to Kosovska Mitrovica":
http://www.freeb92.net
The U.S. government is keeping the lid on new regulations for disabled access to government websites. These regs may be doosies if their keeping them secret.
"U.S. won't release new Web site regs for review":
http://www.freedomforum.org/news/2000/02/2000-02-24-11.asp
A Virginia NOW chapter has endorsed Rudy Giuliani over Hillary Clinton. This renegade chapter has been very critical of the Clintons. "The politics of personal destruction, the character assassinations, the intimidation and political persecutions unleashed from the White House against those who exercised constitutional rights, and the unprecedented degrading and ridiculing of women have left a trail of lies and deceit inseparable from her campaign," said chapter president Marie-Jose Ragab.
"NOW Chapter Endorses Giuliani":
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_smith_news/20000224_xnsof_now_chapte.shtml
"This Robertson stuff and the hard turn to the right really hurt him. I think Bush is still the favorite if you're at the betting table. But he's got to change his message and be inclusive," said Michigan Representative Fred Upton.
It seems to me that according to Mr. Upton, for G.W. Bush to be "inclusive" he has to reject conservatives in general and Christian conservatives in particular. For Mr. Upton, being inclusive means to not include conservatives. If only Republicans were allowed to vote in Republican primaries, McCain would have dropped out by now. What McCain is trying to do is take over the party with his so-called "McCain Majority." This majority is made up mostly of Democrats and moderates. But those people already have a party--the Democratic Party. The Republican Party is a center-right party. The Republicans are the party most aligned with limited government and lower taxes. McCain wants more government in the campaign process and has a tax cut plan smaller than Bill Clinton. McCain says his McCain Majority is the Reagan Democrats of 1980, but he's wrong. Most Reagan Democrats became full-fledged Republicans. McCain's majority is made up of liberals who want tighter controls on business campaign contributions (while leaving labor unions and the left-leaning media off the hook) and moderates who cringe at anyone publicly stating their religious beliefs. That isn't the coalition that gave Reagan two Presidential victories, it's the coalition that backed Gerald Ford in 1976 and Bob Dole in 1996. Both of them lost.
"Shock and Recriminations in Bush Camp After Losses": [reg req'd.]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/022400wh-gop.html
Net access has grown to 50 million people faster than any other technology. Business and the free market are fixing the "digital divide" without the need of government.
"Digital Delusions":
http://www.pacificresearch.org/action/action46.html
G.W. thinks antitrust law should only be used "where there are clear cases of price-fixing."
Bush's Views On Antitrust:
http://www.ncpa.org/pd/law/pd022300a.html
2.24.00
I've added a poll to TAM. If you have a question idea,
email me.
Sports Illustrated is set to let loose their soft-porn--I mean--swimsuit issue. I'm kind of fond of Heidi Klum myself.
Silly, silly me. I've been doing this weblog for almost two months. I read Wired News stories everyday, but I never had a permanent link. That has now been rectified. Sorry, Wired dudes.
Yesterday, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson compared Microsoft to Standard Oil. Fine, both had dominant shares of their markets. So, what! Like Standard Oil, Microsoft offered a product people wanted to buy. There isn't anything wrong with that, unless crying competitors and busy- body statists who leap to action when someone is too successful invoke antitrust laws.
"Judge Keeps Hammering on MS":
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,34483,00.html?tw=wn20000223
John McCain is still in the Presidential hunt because Independents and Democrats are voting for him. In Michigan, Republicans made up a minority of voters. This is ridiculous. If someone wants to vote on who should be the Republican nominee for President, he should be a Republican. The media loves the fact that this is taking place, but they would be singing a different tune, if Republicans were crossing over to vote for a conservative Democrat in the primaries.
"In GOP race, a New Politics Takes Shape":
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/054/nation/In_GOP_race_a_new_politics_takes_shape+.shtml
2.23.00
The race for the Republican nomination has turned into a boxing match. John McCain landed the
first solid punch with his win in New Hampshire. Then G.W. Bush countered with a body blow in
South Carolina. Yesterday, McCain comes back with two hard jabs by winning the Michigan and
Arizona primaries.
The only reason McCain has lasted this long is that lots of Independents and Democrats are voting for him in open primaries. When it comes to Republicans, Bush is whipping McCain. Then McCain has the audacity to say his victories prove "our [Republican] party wants real reform from the real reformer." It shows no such thing because most Republicans are voting for Bush.
One more thing: McCain should quit with his two-thumbs-up victory salute. His neck disappears, and it looks like his shoulders are attached to his ears. He looks like a munchkin.
"McCain Back in Race After Michigan Victory":
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000223/ts/campaign_leadall_156.html
"Upside Down McCain":
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment022300a.html
The San Francisco Giants' new ballpark is loaded to the max with computers and digital gizmos. Players will have quick access to video, reporters will have easy Net connections to zap their stories to the office, and fans will get bonus points for buying food and trinkets. I hope the Brewers' Miller Park will get some of those goodies when it opens next year.
"Pac Bell's Home Field Advantage":
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,33947,00.html?tw=wn20000222
A United Methodist investigative committee has decided not to bring formal charges against 68 clergy who participated in a 1999 California same-sex union ceremony for a lesbian couple.
I have stated previously (12.23.99) that I think the government should get out of the marriage-sanctifying business. However, I think churches should stand by their beliefs. In 1996, the United Methodists stated as policy that "ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches." Yet, church leaders refuse to enforce their beliefs. What's the point of a church being a theological and moral leader if they don't stand by church doctrine? It's just another mealymouthed decision by a mainline Protestant church that will just drive more people to evangelical churches.
"Charges Dropped Against Methodist Clergy in Lesbian Wedding Case":
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/doc/1047/1:RELIGION24/1:RELIGION240214100.html
2.22.00
Robert Kaplan's The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of Zero seems like a really
neat book. He writes about zero's usefullness as well as its philosophical implications.
"All for Naught":
http://www.janmag.com/nonfiction/nothingthatis.html
Weblogs.com has joined the TAM family of listed weblogs. I'm always going there to see who has updated their weblogs or to find new ones.
National Review interviewed David Frum. He recently wrote How We Got Here, a history of the 1970s. Here's an excerpt:
To liberate ourselves from the worst of the 1970s, we have to begin with our own conduct. Sit up straight, quit being so fussy about food, cancel the appointment with the shrink, don't put your kids in daycare, stick with wife (or husband) #1. Oh and one more thing-- shave that damn goatee off.
I'll go along with most of that, but I like my goatee.
Interview w/ David Frum:
http://www.nationalreview.com/interrogatory/interrogatory.html
2.21.00
One of Elian Gonzalez's grandmothers wanted to defect to the U.S. If you haven't been keeping
up with Elian's story, catch up with ElianWatch.
Our government panders to the communist Chinese, yet they cry out at a right-wing blow hard in Austria. Charles Bloomer writes, "Austria is to be ostracized because elements of its government reject the socialist, big government views espoused by the European Union and the current occupant in the White House. But Communist China -- a belligerent, aggressive, hostile nuclear power that will sell weapons of mass destruction to any despot with money--is coddled and rewarded." Makes sense to me.
"Foreign Policy Hypocrisy":
http://www.enterstageright.com/0200haider.htm
Democracy doesn't equal freedom. A democratic government can be just as coercive as any other form. While democracy is important, limited government is more important.
"Democracy is Coercive":
http://mises.org/fullstory.asp?control=383&FS=+Democracy+is+Coercive
Reason's Ronald Bailey is covering the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) convention is Washington, D.C.
"Science in an Uncertain Millennium":
http://reason.com/bi/aaas.html
2.20.00
South Carolina gave G.W. his first victory in a head-to-head battle with Sen. John McCain.
(McCain didn't campaign in Iowa.) In a day of
record turnout, Bush got 53% of the vote compared to 42% for McCain. Delving into the
exit poll numbers, Bush won with both men (52%) and women (55%). He won in nearly all age catagories
including the 18-29-year-olds (54% to 35%). After seeing the response to him after his New
Hampshire victory, McCain thought the young vote would be solidly in his pocket. McCain beat
Bush among liberals and moderates, but got trounced with conservatives.
Bush's victory is good for conservatives because, as National Review's Ramesh Ponnuru writes, "Bush had to move toward them to win, and that he was able to do so without moving too far to the right for the general election." Bush emphasised himself as a "reformer with results" and a tax-cutter. Now it's off to Michigan.
"Battle Moves to Michigan after Bush Trumps McCain in South Carolina":
http://cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/02/19/campaign.wrap/index.html
"It's Over":
http://www.nationalreview.com/vibe/wire021900c.html
Life is full of trade offs. Go to college, or go find a job? Pay off the credit card bill or go to Vegas for the weekend? Paper or plastic? Ingesting pesticides or harmful bacteria?
That last question is the choice people make when they choose between buying non-organic and organic foods. While organic foods don't have have any man-made pesticides on them (they do contain natural ones made by the plant itself), there is a real chance that harmful bacteria like E. coli could be present. Oh, and there's no difference in nutritional quality.
"Organic Food: Food for Thought?":
http://www.acsh.org/press/editorials/organicfood021700.html
2.19.00
Liberals never stop. When it comes to persistence, liberals top conservatives. For many
conservatives, if they can't get everything they fight for, they quit and go home. If liberals
don't get everything they want, they take a portion, claim victory, and prepare to get a little
more in the next fight. That's why government at all levels has gotten incrementally bigger.
Now, after 18 years, radical feminists are again trying to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). I believe in equal rights for women and men. Women, rightly, can vote, own property, run for office, and live their lives as they see fit. But what the ERA does is expand the power of the federal government to equalize every possible discrepency between men and women. Women would be put on the front lines during war; standards would continue to be lowered in many jobs because most women won't be able to meet the physical requirements (police and firemen for example); comprable worth will raise its ugly head. For something that claims to protect rights, it would force the federal government to restrict the rights of many.
"A Glimmer of Hope for the Dormant Equal rights Amendment":
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/044/oped/A_glimmer_of_hope_for_the_dormant_equal_rights_amendment+.shtml
While opponents called Gov. Jeb Bush "Hitler," Florida's Board of Regents took a courageous step and voted to end race and sex preferences for college entrance. Florida follows in the footsteps of California, Texas, and Washington. It's another step away from identity politics and toward a true colorblind society.
"Florida vote would Change Admissions":
http://www.washtimes.com/national/news6-021800.htm
2.16.00
Seattle's City Council came to their senses--at least for the time being. In a 5-4 vote, the
council voted not to ban circus animals from Seattle. Animal rights activists were devestated.
Claudine Erlandson said, "All Seattle is crying. That is not rain outside, it is tears." Such
over-the-top melodrama is typical of left-liberals. Remember, these are the same people who
want to stop suburban development, ban guns, ban SUVs, and spend more on failing public schools
"for the children." What they don't care about is letting kids see beautiful elephants, tigers,
and bears at a circus. Ringling Bros. is safe for now.
"Seattle City Council Defeats Exotic-animal Ban; Activists to Regroup":
http://www.seattletimes.com/news/local/html98/circ_20000215.html
Incompetech offers a page on British authors and the Smart-ass Guide to Art ."
Incompetech:
http://www.incompetech.com/
2.15.00
Some script kiddies who scaled Denial of Service (DoS) attacks to unprecedented levels KO'd
some big websites for a few hours last week, and the U.S. government wants $2 billion. The
Clinton adminstration wants to use the money to set up a system to monitor Net traffic on
government and private networks. The FBI hasn't even found
the crooks, or figured out how they
attacked Yahoo, Amazon,
CNN, and others. I'm not
paranoid like some, but tons of
money in the government's hands to monitor Net traffic is very disconcerting. A better option
is to see what computer security experts can dream up to prevent future attacks. A have more
faith in a bunch of free-wheeling hackers than some suits in D.C.
Former CNN financial talking head, now Space.com honcho, Lou Dobbs thinks restricting Net freedoms is a bigger threat than script kiddie attacks.
"Online Attacks Renew Security Calls":
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48838-2000Feb13.html
"Net Regs? A Little Dobbs'll Do Ya":
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,34322,00.html?tw=wn20000214
Did someone from China attack RealNames? Was this attack directed by the communist Chinese?
"CCs Stolen From RealNames?":
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,34295,00.html?tw=wn20000214
If it seemed like KISS has been around forever, you're not mistaken. Now the band has decided to release one more live album and go on one more tour to end their 27-year careers. I saw them live when they supported their Hot in the Shade album. They were without the makeup so I will have to try to catch them if/when they come to the Milwaukee area.
"Kiss Says Farewell With U.S. Tour, Live Album":
http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/redirect/leaf=allstararticle/fid=191096
I've seen this book for a few days, and it's been driving me crazy. Phillip McGraw is this hot-shot, self-help guru that Oprah adores. He has a new book called Rescuing Relationships. The book is suppose to help couples with failing relationships. It's a very serious subject. Then why does McGraw have a huge grin on the book cover? Because he knows he's going to make a killing from being Oprah's relationship-advice czar. If you saw the orginal picture before it was cropped to just show his uber-grin, I bet you'd see a fistful of cash he knows is coming his way.
Million Dollar Grin of Phil McGraw:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0786866314.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif
2.14.00
Today's Valentine's Day. I hate today. That's because I'm not celebrating it with anyone. If
you're a single woman interested in a loudmouth weblogger,
email me. I found a couple of links just for today.
"Love Stinks": [I'm not bitter, am I?]
http://highwired.net/Paper/Article/0,1269,657-14792,00.html
Valentine's Day, The Klingon Way:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/6646/valen.html
If John McCain gets the Republican nomination, he may look to the tech world for a V.P. Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos or Intel's Andy Grove.
"McCain May Web Surf for Veep":
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/000221/21whisplead.htm
2.13.00
Former Dallas Cowboys coach, Tom Landry died
yesterday. The 75 year-old was a well-respected
man of dignity who led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl titles. Lord, you now have another
great coach to run your team. We'll miss you Tom--felt hat and all.
"Tom Landry Dead at 75":
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/sports/DailyNews/landryobit000212.html
Check out WOIFM?'s portal. Great design for a guy who went to law school.
evhead doesn't see a complete domination of the Web by those "evil mega-corps."
Your regular joe web user, who may spend hours online everyday, is still pretty much clueless about how they would actually publish their own voice to the web. Fortunately, it is getting easier, not harder, as Mr. Snell suggests. And as more and more regular joes start publishing to the web, the big media companies diminish, not rise, in importance. Not that they'll go away. But ask anyone who, for example, has fallen into the still-under-the-radar-but-growing-quickly weblog scene what percentage of their time on the web and content they consume is produced by big media companies versus independent individuals. Compare that to what it was six months or a year ago and see if it seems the little guy's voice is being drowned out.
I can personally vouch for visiting lots more non-commercial websites since starting this weblog last December. But I will still go to those commercial websites that offer good content effectively organzied.
"Democracy can be messy, can't it?" said Donna Donovan. The biggest understatement of the day came from the chaos-filled, yelling-and-screaming, pushing-and-shoving catfight that was today's Reform Party meeting. After Jesse Ventura's announcement yesterday that he was leaving the national Reform Party, Ross Perot supporters came to Nashville to oust current party chairman Jack Gargan. The only thing members could agree on was the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for the victims of the recent Alaska Airlines crash.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're witnessing the death of the Reform Party. For months, people from the various factions have been arguing about everything from the "official" web site, to getting party financial records, to the location of the party convention. Then there's the quest for the party's presidential nomination. Pat Buchanan and Donald Trump both want it, with Ross Perot sitting--so far--silently in the background. The winner will end up with $12.6 million in federal funds to blast the two other parties this fall.
This is what happens when a politial party doesn't have a single, postive focus. The Reform Party is against lots of things: private money in politics, special interest influence, budget deficits and debt, Democrats and Republicans. Other than first amendment-infringing campaign finance reform, Reformers aren't for anything as a whole. Sure, there's the Buchanan/Perot protectionist wing who still hears that "big sucking sound" of jobs going to Mexico. Then there's the fact that the Reform Party is made up of a whole lot of factions that form an incoherent whole. There's the Buchanan Brigades, the Perotistas, the Venturans, the Marxist-cult of Lenora Fulani, and a hodge-podge of conspracy-minded loonies who for good reason couldn't find a voice in either the Democratic or Republican Parties.
Reformers thought they could span the gulf between Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives. What they haven't done is develop their "radical moderate" political philosophy. Many Reformers just describe themselves as fiscally conservative, yet socialy liberal. They favor balanced budgets and abortion rights. There's no talk of individual rights (a conservative emphasis) or social obligation (a liberal emphasis). It's just platitudes of doing it for "our children and grandchildren" and simple patriotism. Until someone systematically develops a intellectually coherent moderate political philosophy without it looking like a mish-mash of conservatism and liberalism, the Reform Party and any other "moderate" politial party is doomed.
"Reform Party Meeting Erupts in Chaos":
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000212/el/reform_party_23.html
If you like watching the lions, tigers, bears, and elephants at the circus, don't go to Seattle. The city council is contemplating banning the circus because it's supposedly cruel to the animals.
"Circus Animals in Spotlight of Debate":
http://www.seattle-pi.com/local/circ09.shtml
Jean Edward Smith examines Aaron Burr in a review of two books in the NY Times.
"The Talented Mr. Burr": [registration req'd]
http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/02/13/reviews/000213.13smitht.html
2.12.00
Gov. Jesse Ventura gave up on the national Reform Party by officially
leaving it. He called the party "hopelessly dysfunctional." That's
understandable considering Pat Buchanan, Donald Trump, Lenora Fulani, and
Ross Perot are all members.
"Minnesota Gov. Ventura pulls out of Reform Party": [via
Drudge]
http://news.excite.com/news/r/000211/14/campaign-ventura
Schyler at Neoflux goes after Clinton over his promised veto of a bill that would ease the marriage tax penalty.
If he really thinks a tax penalty on marriage is a bad idea [which it is], then its a bad idea for all income levels, not just the poor. I didn't realize that when Clinton & the Dems talk about standing up for families, they only mean certain categories of families.
A little behind in the teeny-bopper culture? Memorize these vitals of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
"Fleshing Out the Vital Details": [via
Robot Wisdom]
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/lmds924.htm
2.11.00
Salon's Scott Rosenberg offers some calm thoughts on this week's cyber-attacks on
Yahoo, Amazon, and
eBay. Those sites were only down for a few hours while the
rest of the Net was fine. If anything, the attacks will prod engineers to develop better
security measures.
"The Net Scare":
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/rose/2000/02/10/web_attacks/index.html
I finished Tom Wolfe's Radical Chic & Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers. Great stuff, as usual, from Wolfe. It's a book of two essays. "Radical Chic" describes how New York liberals hosted and supported the Black Panthers because it was the "in" thing to do. Kind of like appreciating modern art. "Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers" delves into the welfare-interest group complex where one could become a government-paid "neighborhood organizer" if he yelled loud enough.
He explained the collapse of communism almost 50 years before it happened. Now, even liberal publications are giving F. A. Hayek the credit he deserves.
"The Hayek Century":
http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/beichman-2000211.htm
Part 1 of J. Cassidy's article on Hayek:
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind0002&L=hayek-l&P=R593
Part 2:
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind0002&L=hayek-l&D=0&P=1240
2.09.00
The Austrian situtation is one of the few instances where I agree with Pat Buchanan. Tuesday
night, Buchanan said, "I think the European Union would have been better off to accept the
decision of the people of Austria and move on."
"Buchanan: Don't Fear Austria Gov't.":
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000208/aponline225435_000.htm
I'm opposed to the death penalty. That makes me a rarity among conservatives. The role of the state should be to protect individual rights, not take them away. The state shouldn't be in the business of killing people. The death penalty ends up being merely revenge or a very poor deterrent. I bring this up because, Gov. Ryan (R-IL) has issued a moritorium on the death penalty in his state. This comes off a year where more people were freed from death row (13) than executed (12). State-sanctioned killing is not justified when many innocent people have been exonerated and where life imprisonment without parole is a more humane (albeit costly) option.
"Executioner's Swan Song?":
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2000/02/08/death_penalty/print.html
Too many have been beating on Nike, Reebok, and other companies that use cheap labor in foreign countries. Critics say the workers are exploited. David Henderson defends sweatshops for the simple reason that they are the best in a sea of bad options.
"The Case for Sweatshops":
http://www-hoover.stanford.edu/pubaffairs/we/current/henderson_0200.html
2.08.00
A few conservatives have given up any chance of political victory. They claim the culture
war is lost.
Edwin Feulner disagrees. He argues that our very human nature urges us to change the world for
the better; the very nature of America allows that change to take place; and competition is the
best tool to derive good solutions.
Feulner won't give up the fight because the "alternative is unthinkable."
"Conservatism: A Movement of Determined People":
http://www.policyexperts.org/insider/2000/jan00/
The Clinton-Gore campaign received cash from a man who U.S. intelligence officials say served "as a front man for corporations controlled by Indonesian and Chinese army." More evidence indicting the most corrupt Presidential administration in U.S. history.
"Trie Links Funds for Clinton to China's Military":
http://www.washtimes.com/national/nation4-02072000.htm
Yesterday, 60 people with too much time on their hands protested at Microsoft headquarters. It seems too many MS employees are getting rich and raising the price of homes in Seattle. So, the protesters were protesting that fact that people are getting rich. I didn't think that was a bad thing.
"Microsoft Targeted by Protesters":
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,34187,00.html?tw=wn20000208
According to Altavista, TAM is a prime source for Jesse Jackson and the Decatur 6.
We're all going to die! Is Bruce Willis around to save us?
"Asteroid to Hit Earth in 2022":
http://www.the-sun.co.uk/news/3487108
2.07.00
WOIFM? and I are on the same page regarding the EU's democracy bashing towards Austria.
The new ruling coalition won roughly 60% of the parliamentary seats and the EU responds by boycotting. So, democracy is okay for Ireland, and Russia, but not for Austria?
Michael Allen rightly states that "campaign finance reform" will only make government bigger, not clean it up:
To enforce strict limits on campaign finance, complicated laws will be drafted. To enforce these laws, a vast cluster of new bureaucrats will have to interpret the overwritten laws -- arbitrarily, of course. This system leaves open the chance that the bureaucrats will be "bought" by wealthy donors hoping to have their illegal donations to candidates overlooked.
It sounds a lot like our current situation since the our latest campaign finance laws were issued in the 1970s.
"Money to Buy Nothing":
http://www.enterstageright.com/0200finref.htm
Gorby has a new book. He thinks Russia would be better off if the Soviet Union still existed and takes lots of shots at Boris Yeltsin.
Too bad Michael Beschloss seems to be a minor Gorby fan. "As the last leader of the Soviet Union, he demonstrated amazing political courage and desire to do good. His historical reputation, which deserves to be formidable, is unlikely to be diminished by the vanity, political posturing and sheer pettiness displayed in this book," writes Beschloss.
Mikhail's "desire to do good" was the continued existence of a communist Soviet Union. His "political courage" was aimed to keep together a hodgepodge of ethnic groups together under one totalitarian state. Gorbachev's "historical reputation" hardly needs remembering. It should merely be a footnote in Ronald Reagan's greatest achievement.
"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do": [registration req.]
http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/02/06/reviews/000206.06beschlot.html
He may not admit to being a Democrat sympathizer, but his wife might be. Insight caught John McCain's wife, Cindy wearing a golden eagle pin that is known in Washington, D.C. to be a symbol of support for Hillary Clinton. The McCain campaign hasn't commented.
"Birds of a Feather Pinned Together?!":
http://www.insightmag.com/archive/200002049.shtml
2.06.00
Today is Ronald Reagan's 89th birthday. The man who led the U.S. to victory in the Cold War,
brought down the Berlin Wall, and transformed the economy into the greatest in U.S. history is
slowly being brought down by Alzheimer's Disease. Please keep Ron, Nancy, and all those who are
affected by this disease in your prayers.
Michael Reagan's web page devoted to his father:
http://www.reagan.com/plate.main/ronald.html
Read about Reagan's youth at his official web site:
http://www.ronaldreagan.com/tampico.html
Learn more about Alzheimer's Disease at the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center:
http://www.alzheimers.org/
I received this report on ethnic violence in Kosovo from FreeB92 News:
Unrest in Kosovska Mitrovica
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Friday - Kosovska Mitrovica is in a state of tension after violence in the town overnight, a spokesman for the local Serb National Council, Nikola Kabasic, said today. Kabasic told media that the town erupted in violence after several thousand Serbs took to the streets. International organisations in the province were one of the targets, with several KFOR and UN vehicles set on fire.
A French KFOR spokesman said today that the night of bloodshed began when an attacker threw a bomb into a Serbian cafe and three Albanians were killed in a separate incident at about the same time. After the attack on the cafe, Serbs gathered in the northern part of the town where they clashed with Albanians. Fifteen Serbs and six Albanians were injured. UNMIK representative Beatrice Lacoste said that two Turks and two Albanians had died during the night.
KFOR used mace early this morning to disperse a crowd of Albanians throwing rocks at peace forces stationed on the bridge between the Albanian and Serb zones of the town. Demonstrators on the bridge accused KFOR of failing to protect the minority Albanian community in the northern, Serb zone of the town.
Twelve people were treated in the Kosovska Mitrovica hospital following the conflict. A hospital spokesman said today that seven people were in critical condition following surgery.
The UN regional administrator for Northern Kosovo, Mario Morcone and KFOR command today proclaimed a curfew on Kosovska Mitrovica streets from 8.00 pm until 5.00 am. The curfew will begin tonight.
The latest ethnic violence in Kosovo demonstrates it is too early for the safe return of the non-Albanian population to the province, UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said today. He added that the events of last night had also shown that international forces were not able to give 24 -hour protection to all minorities. Redmond told a press conference in Geneva that it was up to the leaders of ethnic communities to stop the violence between Albanians and Serbs.
It has been almost 8 months since NATO forces interfered in the Yugoslavian civil war, and there is still no sign of an end to the violence.
14 European Union (EU) countries "agreed Monday to sever all official bilateral contacts, withdraw support for Austrian candidates to posts in international bodies, and receive ambassadors only at a technical level should the Austrian far-right enter government." The sanctions will be imposed because Austria's Freedom Party is a member of the coalition government.
Is this the future of a unified Europe? Will other European nations try to dictate the domestic affairs of its union partners? The Freedom Party is part of the Austrian government because a large portion of the public voted for them. I will not defend the stupid statements and policies leaders of the Freedom Party have issued. However, I will defend Austria's right to organize its own government without outside interference.
"EU will Maintain Sanctions Against Austria: Guterres":
http://sg.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/world/afp/article.html?s=singapore/headlines/000206/world/afp/EU_will_maintain_sanctions_against_Austria__Guterres.html
Dovetailing with the Austrian story, Romano Prodi, the European Commission president, said the EU was becoming a European government. Those countries that didn't accept this would "disappear from the history books."
"EU is Becoming the 'European Government', says bullish Prodi":
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/UK/Politics/2000-02/eu040200.shtml
Left-wing ice cream lovers are livid over a possible Ben & Jerry's buyout.
"Trying to Lick a Takeover":
http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/2000-01/27/183l-012700-idx.html
The Economist is tired of the bashing of mulitnational corporations. Finally, a reasoned defense.
"The World's View of Multinationals":
http://www.economist.com/editorial/freeforall/29-1-00/index_ld0740.html
Yeah! Sites for left-handers.
Yahoo's Left-Hander listing:
http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Cultures_and_Groups/Left_Handers/
2.04.00
It's ok to eat meat and drink milk.
"Got Milk and Meat? Good for You!":
http://www.acsh.org/press/editorials/meat&milk020100.html
In naming Einstein its Man of the Century, Time claimed the theory of relativity led to our current deluge of moral relativism. Not so! "Einstein disavowed any connection between his theories and a system of morals or ethics. He believed in a god and in fixed notions of right and wrong," writes David Greenberg.
"It Didn't Start With Einstein":
http://slate.msn.com/HistoryLesson/00-02-02/HistoryLesson.asp
Does Clinton deserve the lion's share of the credit for the U.S.'s great economy? I don't think so. Neither do Larry Kudlow and Stephen Moore:
It was Reagan's supply side economic ideas -- the policy of marginal rate tax cuts, a strong dollar, trade globalization (the Gipper started NAFTA with a U.S.-Canadian free trade agreement), deregulation of key industries like energy, financial services and transportation, and a re-armed military -- all of which unleashed a great wave of entrepreneurial-technological innovation that transformed and restructured the economy, resulting in a long boom prosperity that continues to throw off economic benefits to this day.
"It's the Reagan Economy, Stupid":
http://www.cato.org/dailys/02-01-00.html
In the words of Commerce Secretary William Daley, "The marketplace, I believe, will eventually solve this." "This" meaning the "digital divide" between whites and blacks; urban and rural; rich and poor. Nevertheless, he supports Clinton's plan of $2 billion in tax incentives for companies to donate computers and training.
"Up-Close 'Digital Divide' Q&A":
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,34069,00.html?tw=wn20000203
2.03.00
Coming off giving GW Bush a spanking Tuesday in New Hampshire, John McCain is begging for bucks.
The AP reports he raised $500,000 through his web site
after his victory. As of 12.31.99, McCain had $1.5 million in cash in the bank compared to
GW's $31 million. But what shocked me was Bush raised $68.7 million. That means he's spent $37.7
million already and we've only finished with New Hampshire! What has his campaign been spending
it all on? He spent $38 million and still got slammed by 18 points in New Hampshire. This won't
matter if Bush wins in South Carolina, but it's something the
talking heads should comtemplate.
"McCain Trying To Turn Win Into Cash":
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000202/el/presidential_money_mccain_4.html
Slate, Tuesday, broke a media taboo. While other media outlets have an agreement not to release exit poll results until the polls close, Jack Shafer decided to release the poll results Tuesday afternoon. He called the taboo an "idiotic and condescending notion that only members of the media can be trusted with this precious information." Slate should have waited. Since exit polls are pretty accurate, releasing them before the polls close would only discourage voters from voting.
"Internet Breaks Tradition on Early Exit Poll Reports":
[via Drudge]
http://asia.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/technology/afp/article.html?s=asia/headlines/000203/technology/afp/Internet_breaks_tradition_on_early_exit_poll_reports.html
National Review asked Steve Forbes to end his Presidential run. "Nobody has fought more valiantly than he to press his insights in the public square. But he has not lit the fires in absence of which he becomes merely a distracting figure on the stage."
I agree with NR. Forbes hasn't sparked conservatives like he did in 1996. If he wants to push his ideas of a flat tax, social security reform, and school choice, he should run for the New Jersey Senate seat.
"NR to Forbes: Withdraw":
http://www.nationalreview.com/vibe/wire020200a.html
2.02.00
McCain soundly defeated GW. The media thinks the Republicans have a race for the nomination.
Let's hear what they say after Bush beats McCain in South Carolina. More later.
"McCain Landslide Sets up a Shootout":
http://www.washtimes.com/national/news1-020200.htm
Salon profiles one of the best American writers of the past 50 years, Tom Wolfe. If you haven't yet, I urge you to read his Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and A Man in Full. Those are the two Wolfe books I've read with Radical Chic in the queue. Wolfe is that rare conservative that can alter an artform. In many ways, Wolfe did for creative nonfiction what T.S. Eliot did for poetry. This will be one of the few times I'll order you to stop reading TAM and RUN to get some Wolfe.
Brilliant Careers--Tom Wolfe:
http://www.salon.com/people/bc/2000/02/01/wolfe/index.html
2.01.00
Drudge is writing a book and is asking readers to
send him letters "pro or con" about the
Drudge Report. "You will not be paid for the comments, but I can promise you'll be famous!"
wrote Drudge.
Letters for Drudge's book:
http://www.drudgereport.com/letters.htm
David Schippers, who was the chief lawyer for the House impeachment committee endorsed Alan Keyes for President.
"Impeachment Lawyer -- A Democrat -- Endorses Keyes":
http://www.conservativenews.org/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200001/POL20000131g.html
Sean Hackbarth
Writer/Bookseller
Allenton, WI
https://www.angelfire.com/wi/shackbar
shackbar@free-market.net
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