Author John Kekes, on the “absurdity of egalitarianism”: the relentless egalitarian propaganda eagerly parroted by the media would have us believe that our society is guilty of dooming people to a life of poverty. What this ignores is the unprecedented success of our society in having less than 13 percent of the population live below a very generously defined poverty level and 87 percent above it. The typical ratio in

(Inspired by Allah, who was himself inspired by Laurence. Somehow this guy’s involved. And him. And him. And those CAIR pricks. And then there’s something about Dawn and a giant spider, but I’m not sure how that fits in.)

I’m only going to say this once: leaving Popeye Doyle off the list of “100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time” is a lot like leaving Charles Bronson off the list of “100 Greatest Movie Actors of All Time Named Charles Bronson.” That’s it. Go on about your business.

Story. Oh, and note to Monsieur Kerry: better to clear your plans with Kofi first. Remember, you’re trying to shed the label of ineffectual dilettante, not reinforce it.

The Kerry Sloganator, from Wizbang. Still.

Donk cyberflunky Josh Marshall takes time out from criticizing Christopher Dodd (I kid! — Grand Kleagle props are sooo April 8…) to weigh in on last night’s Presidential news conference. Not surprisingly, Josh is concerned (in that furrow-browed, slightly bemused way peculiar to people who wear bicycle shorts and eat lots of Thai takeout) with the President’s lack of nuance: I don’t know how to give a meaningful analysis of

Q: How many post-colonial theorists does it take to change a light bulb? A: Bush Lied! …Anti-war activist Rahul Mahajan says repeated US military raids into Sunni mosques and madrassahs in Baghdad are not helping us win the hearts and minds of former Ba’athists now posing as poor, put-upon victims of an American imperial occupation. And yes, I think he’s serious. **** [update: Beltway Traffic Jam]

Highlights from the 9/11 Commission hearings, April 14. Richard Ben Veniste: “Let me begin by saying, Director Tenet, that I have the utmost respect for the job that you do, and that I applaud your dedicated service to the country. No one is more grateful for the job the CIA does than am I –“ George Tenet: “– I rather doubt that.” Richard Ben Veniste: “– pardon me? I’m not

In the “Kerry Press Conference” version of this drinking game, Teddy Kennedy walks off with two cases of Chivas and a young campaign staffer, then shows up 12 hours later drunk, dripping wet, and missing his car. Everyone else just plays Jenga™ and pretends not to notice.

Uh oh. Seems Colin Powell’s gone and stepped off the ideological plantation again — drinkin’ iced tea in the big white house while his progressive brethren pick cotton for the cause. Nothing a good whippin’ won’t fix, though. Not racism, just tough love. Can I get an amen? [via Cole; more here, with screen capture.]