Unfortunately, while Kurtz’ points will resonate with those of us who vote with an eye toward more than simply “fashion” or “symbolism,” they will likely be brushed aside by those raised on a nannystate grown increasingly legitimized by both parties. From “Something New Here,” NRO (which, given its importance, I’ll quote at length): During his first campaign for the Illinois state senate in 1995-96, Barack Obama was a member of,

Well, it was partly Mr Ayers’, too, so let’s “spread the wealth” of praise a bit, shall we? From the NY Post: Chicago’s former schools chief has flunked the education foundation headed by Barack Obama and founded by 1960s terrorist Bill Ayers – saying it failed to monitor projects and funded school “reform” groups that campaigned against boosting academic standards. “There was a total lack of accountability. If you went

So argues the LATimes blog. Personally, I’m not bothered by that death. But what I’d like to see is a clear set of rules and those rules adhered to. I suspect that, forced to compete, the GOP — or perhaps even a fledgling new party — will find a way. And the market will once again show its wisdom.

First, I bet Oliver Stone wishes just now he’d tempered the General’s portrayal in the disappointing W. Beyond that, though, why is there any surprise Powell would back Obama? As I’ve been writing about for years now, contemporary progressives — either to separate themselves from “neocons” for electoral purposes (and so cynically) or because they truly believe in the foreign policy realism of Nixon, George H W Bush, 70s-era Kissinger,

Let’s call it the unitary executive: Liberals pretend that only President Bush is preventing the U.S. from adopting some global warming “solution.” But occasionally their mask slips. As Barack Obama’s energy adviser has now made clear, the would-be President intends to blackmail — or rather, greenmail — Congress into falling in line with his climate agenda. [Review & Outlook] AP Jason Grumet is currently executive director of an outfit called

Let’s call it, oh, I dunno: SPEAKERGATE? Apparently, on Obama’s released tax records, he discloses income from speaking fees. The problem? Accepting payment for speaking fees when you’re a legislator is against Illinois state law. Apparently, as an Illinois state legislator through 2004, Barack was prohibited from taking honoraria for speaking under the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. But what about Barack Obama’s 2000 and 2002 tax returns? 2000: On his

Because nobody gets their news here — and because, at this stage of the game, GOP stalwart blogs are busy stroking each other like cyber swingers at a John Updike key party — I am free, as a party outsider, to take time off today to do nothing. On other hand, Darleen, Dan, et al are still giving “making a difference” a go over at the Pub. Enjoy.

Finally! Some real “digging” into a prominent figure not named Sarah Palin. Or Todd Palin. Or Bristol Palin. Or Trig Palin. Or Bristol Palin’s Baby Daddy. — But don’t get too excited. The NYT’s Jodi Kantor wasn’t interested in vetting Barack Obama — or even John McCain, for that matter. No, in this instance the target of “inquiry” was far more crucial: Cindy McCain. And Ms Kantor sought the help

Charles W. Calomiris, a professor at Columbia Business School and the author of “U.S. Bank Deregulation in Historical Perspective” (Cambridge 2006), writing in the WSJ: It’s grind-your-favorite-axe day on the network news shows. The financial crisis is all the fault of dreaded “deregulation,” shout some pundits; others blame the “small government” mentality of the Bush administration and Republicans in Congress. But haven’t federal and state tax revenues been growing even

Now that SCOTUS has shot down Repubs for lacking standing to sue over voter fraud in Ohio, efforts such as this one are increasingly likely. Cheat first, let it get sorted out later, is the strategy, it seems — because no one will force the recall of an elected President. At least, that’s the underlying assumption. And the ends, as we know, justify the means. Of course, the added long-term