Thomas Sowell sees a forest where others insist there are but trees: Deficit commissions make it politically possible to spend money first and get somebody else to recommend raising taxes later. They are a virtual guarantee of never-ending increases in both spending and taxes. Why provide political cover? Leave the big spenders out there naked in front of the voters! Either the elected officials will change their ways or the

Sounds bad, doesn’t it? — this knowing that illegal aliens can attend California colleges at a rate much lower than can citizens from other states? Perhaps we should all remember that when California’s broke ass comes begging for a bailout from the rest of the union. On the flip side, though, I find that if you replace “illegal immigrants” with “undocumented future citizens who represent the best and most noble

Washington Examiner: Votes within the two major parties’ congressional caucuses are traditionally by secret ballot when choosing their respective legislative leaders. The earmarks moratorium proposed by Sen. Jim DeMint, Sen. Tom Coburn and a host of other conservatives, however, is a leadership issue of a different kind. It’s not about an individual senator but rather the credibility of the GOP caucus. As Lee said, the earmarks moratorium “is a critical

National Journal: Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, currently embroiled in legal challenges over her write-in candidacy, took a shot at former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s intelligence Monday night. “I just do not think that she has those leadership qualities, that intellectual curiosity that allows for building good and great policies,” Murkowski told CBS anchor Katie Couric. “You know, she was my governor for two years, and I don’t think that

A few days ago I cited political correctness as one of the biggest threats to classical liberal ideals — that is, to the founding ideals of this country (with a focus on individual autonomy and liberty; private property rights; government by consent of the governed) — noting at the time that what PC does, and what in fact it is designed to do, is inverts those very ideals so that,

Or, as the LA Times would have it, “In about-face, Sen. Mitch McConnell backs ban on earmark spending.” But I like my headline better. related: In a stunning development, Glenn Reynolds fails to condemn McConnell for caving to unhelpful kooks demanding ideological fidelity to fiscal conservatism, even if that fidelity is largely symbolic. All of which clearly validates those of the belief that JEFF GOLDSTEIN IS CRAZY DANGEROUS AND UNSTABLE!

Obama’s socialism? Turns out it was all very necessary and pragmatic. So. I guess that settles it, then. (h/t TerryH)

Looks like the pragmatic Good Man has decided that moving to the center is a sucker’s play. Instead: Shut out the “obstructionist” haters and their bitter-clinger mandate and bring on the spendings! White House senior advisor David Axelrod made it clear on Sunday that President Obama has made no commitment to vetoing spending bills that contain earmarks despite calls from fiscal hawks for the president to make that pledge. Axelrod

Barack Obama: “So then it’s a deal, then? — 15 Big Mac combo meals for 6 lbs of Chadol Baki, and you agree to throw in free chop sticks…?”* **** update: Barack Obama: “Ha. Done. Suckers…!”*

Are you a “progressive” dispirited with what must appear to you a sudden, jarring, civil lurch rightward? Has your desire for the Greater Good — and your ability to engineer that Good and act as its supervisor — been upset by inconvenient realities on the ground (eg., no more of other people’s monies to spend)? Does the intrusive Dystopian present threaten to harsh your mellow and undercutting your plans for