The attack on private-sector capitalism — and, as such, free enterprise itself — continues apace. Cronyism is refigured as universalism; stifling speech is refigured as transparency. Notes Jon Henke in an email: I cannot emphasize this enough. The whole “Occupy Wall Street” thing is being used as the tip of the spear for more regulations and legislation aimed at eliminating the ability of capitalists to defend themselves against the (“non-profit”)

Politico. So. The lawyer for an accuser — her special pleader — will be allowed to release a statement on behalf of an accuser who will still remain anonymous, with said release based on accusations sealed in an agreement Cain has never seen and didn’t sign, stemming from a case that was never adjudicated, the outcome of which was a severance agreement, not a “harassment settlement”. And we’ll then have

Roads and people hoping to find pork rinds hardest hit: Moore, who has been involved in the Occupy movement since it’s early days in September when there was only an Occupy Wall Street in New York, was enthusiastic about the early popularity of the movement. He cited a recent National Journal poll saying, “59 percent of the American public supports the goals and the aims of the Occupy Wall Street

Was a surgeon to Queen Victoria also Jack the Ripper? A relative says yes. Nothing definitive, but I find this mystery fascinating. My favorite theory: Lewis Carroll as the Ripper. Something so dark about the idea that London women were butchered by half-deaf, stammering logician who spent much of his time in the company of little girls. (h/t VerumSerum)

Calling Herman Cain a “jive talking huckster” — one who has somehow fooled conservatives into taking a shine to him — is not only silly, but it’s condescending, to boot. Like him or hate him, believe he’s informed and polished enough to lead the nation or not, the fact of the matter is, Cain — by dint of being a business outsider interloping into GOP politics — was able to

Newt, bless him, pretended that ethanol subsidies get a bad rap, and pandered like a little bitch to the Iowa crony class. Which is one of the reasons why Newt, for all his smarts and good ideas, is such a disappointment to me sometimes. Perry, on the other hand, told it straight. And he needs to be clapped on the back for doing so. Fox: Texas Governor Rick Perry thrashed

Keep this defense in mind if Mr Bennett, the story-shopping lawyer of one of the women who filed a complaint against Cain, manages to convince the NRA board that he should be allowed to release a statement on her behalf. What he wants to do, reportedly, is “give her side of the story” — while keeping her anonymous, and not allowing for any follow-up questions. We learned today from the

Beginning…about now. PILE ON! **** update: Cain notes that severance agreement differs from settlement for sexual harassment. Maintains his innocence. Believes that the leak came from another campaign. He also laughed at a litany of racial criticisms leveled at him by liberals, put together in a montage. Says they just don’t like a black man who thinks for himself. **** update 2: I liked this bit, which Cain uttered unselfconsciously:

And there’s a reason: he was cool in the seventies — but in a libertarian kinda way. And being cool in the seventies wasn’t easy. What with ponchos and platform disco boots and such.

Is Cain’s real failing that he’s not a polished liar with a seasoned hit crew ready to tamp down on claims from accusers? That is, is his failing that he not a professional politician? Some of us clearly took different lessons away from the TEA Party and the GOP establishment parade of compromises than I did. (Oh, and by the way? Pajamas Media — who broke the alleged details of