Election

Even Libertarians Make Mistakes

Left and Right, seen as polarized, in same sorry rut by David Boaz

And the No.

1 way liberals and conservatives are alike: Both think they can run your life better than you can.

Liberals want to raise taxes

because they can spend your money better than you can. They don’t believe in school choice because you’re not capable of choosing a

school for your children. They think they can handle your healthcare, your retirement and your charitable contributions better than you

can.
—
David Boaz is executive vice president of the Cato Institute and author of ”Libertarianism: A Primer” (Free Press,

1997). This article first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

Bullshit, Boaz. I don’t speak for anyone but myself.

However, as a liberal, I have no interest in running anyone else’s life. I do believe there are some things best done by government and

that everyone who can should pay some share of those costs. I believe in the commonwealth. I’m certain that Duhbya has disproven the

trickle-down, rising tide, piss-on-you-Jack theory.

You may want to read the rest of Boaz’s column. He is very balanced in

discrediting liberals and conservatives; only he knows and speaks the truth. mjh

Theirs

Balance — who cares about fair

What is this about?
I said Far From Balanced and Cheap Shots (the two entries just before this one), then he said and the last word (which unfortunately was

‘reflexively’)..

Careful, John, your tone may be closer to Lush’s than Jefferson’s (”fallacious,” ”anything

useful,” ‘something to say’). Perhaps we’re all products of our time.

You may be shocked to learn I was raised on the scientific

method and enjoy logical discourse. When someone turns to you and says, ”gee, it’s hot today,” do you respond with, ”not

really, in the context of the last 100 years” or, more simply, ”prove it!” Or should I ask about your average reaction is to a

statistically significant sampling of people commenting on the weather — the anecdotal being meaningless?

I honestly don’t know what

to say at this point (gasp!). Do I have to conduct a rigorous study of anything I want to comment on? Do I have to present my views

weakly to be credible? Did I overlook the Blog Standards of Ethical Conduct? Understand, I’m not flaming you for your blog entry (I

almost made the blogroll!). I do feel weirdly singled out and ill to be in the company in which you put me — and I’m wise enough to

allow you may be right.

Just so you know, I’ve cut out the withering half of my reply. Lush would never do that.

peace,

mjh

For anyone listening in (and wondering ”what’s wrong with these boys?”): I do recommend John Fleck’s

writings, including his blog. I especially liked his piece on the

first big rain of the summer.

Dump Duhbya

Republicans Against Bush

A Republican Adrift in Ohio
By Harold Meyerson

ELYRIA, Ohio — In theory, Dan Imbrogno shouldn’t be a voter George W. Bush has to worry about. Imbrogno, a lifelong Republican, Ohioan and business executive, looks like central casting’s idea of the model Bush voter. …

Imbrogno is a tried-and-true Republican, too, but even so, he says, “I won’t vote for Bush. I won’t necessarily vote for Kerry; I have trouble with his positions on some issues other than economics.” But he supports John Kerry’s proposal to end tax breaks for companies that have moved their jobs overseas.

Imbrogno is not alone. He’s active in the Northeast Ohio Coalition for American Manufacturing (NEOCAM), a group of corporate executives who Imbrogno estimates to be roughly 80 percent Republican. And among his fellow NEOCAM members, he says, “I know I’m not exceptional” in breaking with Bush.

Letters-to-the-Editor

Cheap Shots

The Democratic presidential candidate is probably

oblivious to the inconvenience and expense visited on hapless citizens. [S]ince the mistake was committed on Kerry’s

behalf [mjh: in an effort to protect his life], his campaign ought to reimburse passengers who were railroaded into paying tow

fee. — The Mighty Albuquerque Journal

”Oblivious”? How do you even spell that without a duhbya?

I’m puzzled by the Journal’s outrage on behalf of 6 citizens who were inconvenienced by the Secret Service’s decision to tow their

vehicles. I’m more puzzled still how the Journal hangs this on John Kerry (on the front page, no less, and, days later, the editorial

page). Is it possible that more than 6 people have been inconvenienced by the frequent visits of Dick Cheney and George Bush? Is it

possible that more than 6 people have paid a steep price in terms of loss of freedom, especially free speech and free association? We’ll

never know from the Journal, which isn’t about to investigate such matters. mjh

[published 8/24/04]

Dump Duhbya

‘An all-out raid’ and ‘a short-sighted policy’

America’s Waters Vulnerable to Development, Pollution
Bush administration policy should be reversed

”The Bush administration is sweeping away 30 years of protection for some of our nation’s most important waters,” said Joan Mulhern, senior legislative counsel for Earthjustice. ”Polluters have been given a green light to ignore the Clean Water Act, even when it may affect drinking water supplies.”

Bush Administration Policy Makes America’s Waters Vulnerable to Development, Pollution

“It is ironic that while the President is touting his goal of a net gain of wetlands, his administration’s policy is exposing millions of acres of wetlands, rivers, lakes, and streams to destruction,” said Julie Sibbing, a senior legislative representative at the National Wildlife Federation. “An estimated 20 percent of America’s wetlands might be open to pollution and development.”

The EPA has estimated that some 20 million acres of wetlands in the continental United States may lose federal protection under the Bush administration’s policy. In addition, tens of thousands of miles of seasonal and headwater streams and countless numbers of small lakes, and ponds could be left without federal protection from water pollution.

“The Bush administration is pursuing a short-sighted policy aimed at satisfying oil industry and other polluter interests bent on dismantling our fundamental clean water safeguards,” said Robin Mann, chair of Sierra Club’s Clean Water Campaign.

Note the following is a different subject, though clearly related in what it says about ‘straight-shooting’ Duhbya. mjh

ABQjournal: Fed Panel Weighs in on N.M. Drilling

The prospect of natural gas development in the Valle Vidal has drawn opposition from Gov. Bill Richardson, other state leaders and a broad coalition of local sportsmen, environmental groups and businesses.

Allan Lackey, a Raton businessman and former Valle Vidal outfitter, said other uses of the forest land and the voices of local people are being ignored.

“It’s been a pattern that the Bush administration has established all across the West to expand oil and gas drilling,” said Lackey, a Republican. “It’s an all-out raid on our public resource.”

El Paso Corp. was hoping the White House task force could help it speed up a decision on whether the Valle Vidal could be opened to oil and gas leasing.

Dump Duhbya

Bush Lie #1047

Oakland Tribune Online – Local & Regional News

Bush accused Democratic Sen. John Kerry of pandering to Nevada voters by playing both sides of the issue, part of a broader effort to cast the Massachusetts senator as someone who bends to the political winds.

“He says he’s strongly against Yucca here in Nevada, but he voted for it several times,” Bush claimed.

That is not exactly true.

Each time Kerry has faced the simple choice of voting whether or not to send waste to Yucca Mountain, he has voted against it. But he has voted for some measures that had provisions to allow nuclear dumps there. Some 16 years ago, Kerry voted for an overall budget bill that included a provision favoring putting the nuclear waste in Nevada.

Be sure to re-read that bold line: ”That is not exactly true.” Wow, the media calls Bush on a lie. mjh

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." — Sam Adams