Daily Archives: May 15, 2009

Can conservatives govern if they are anti-government?

May 15, 200912:50 p.m.

frankthomas2From a Wall Street Journal column by “What’s the Matter With Kansas?” author Thomas Frank (in photo) about how it can be difficult for some conservatives to govern when they are anti-government:
“So this is how it works with conservatives at the helm: We starve government agencies of resources, we keep their employees’ pay well below their private-sector counterparts, we make sure they know what we think of them as they wait their turn at the photocopier. Then we demand they protect us when there’s a problem with extremely complex financial instruments, whose designers are defended by some of the best-paid lawyers in the world. And when the regulators inevitably fail? We declare indignantly that the problem begins and ends with them.”

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Economy, U.S. politics | Comments (133)

Would Cheney have taken on McCain, too?

May 15, 20096:03 a.m.

cheneypressMSNBC’s First Read blog asks: “Would Dick Cheney have spoken out as aggressively — or at all — on defending the Bush administration’s interrogation tactics (if) John McCain had won in November? Remember that McCain, a torture victim, spoke out against waterboarding and torture, and likely would have discontinued their practices as president.”
Meanwhile, many Republicans are concerned about — and Democrats are pleased with — Cheney’s high-profile defense of torture, the Washington Post reported. “Given that Dick Cheney is as popular as Britney Spears at a Sunday-school teacher convention, we hope he continues to be the face of the Republican Party,” said Hari Sevugan of the Democratic National Committee.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under President Bush, Terrorism | Comments (90)

Open thread 5/15

May 15, 20096:02 a.m.

thread398

By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (286)

From Gitmo to Goddard?

May 15, 20096:01 a.m.

“They’re not repentant sinners. I don’t want them in my hometown.” — Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, warning against moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to U.S. prisons

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas delegation, Terrorism | Comments (23)

Dubious, bogus and utterly phony headlines

May 15, 20096:00 a.m.

spoofslogo15The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com and theonion.com:
MISS CALIFORNIA VOWS TO USE HER NAKED BREASTS FOR GOOD; Fight Against Gay Marriage Will Be ‘Tireless, Topless’
SOCIAL SECURITY OVERHAULED TO PROVIDE ‘EARLY-DEATH INCENTIVES’
CHENEY TO TRAVEL AROUND COUNTRY IN SOUND TRUCK; Hopes to Bring Pro-Torture Message to Every State
ANGRY CLEVELAND INDIANS FANS DEMAND TEAM TAKE STEROIDS; Threaten Boycott of ’Roid-free Squad
CNN WARNS SWINE FLU COULD CONTINUE THROUGH SWEEPS; Scary Reporting Spreads to MSNBC

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Spoof headlines | Comments (10)