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00Publius Contributor - Censorship - Democrats/Leftists - Inernet - Media Bias - News - Security/Safety - Socialism - Society/Culture - Technology - Warner Todd Huston

And Now the Government Comes After the Bloggers?

November 23, 2008 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

“Gubbmint isn’t the solution,” Ronald Reagan famously said. “Gubbmint is the problem!” Well, until Al Gore invented our wonderful Internet world, there were darn few ways we common citizens could highlight just what the “problem” of government was. But, happily, we bloggers have become the modern version of our Founders plying the pamphleteer’s trade. Now, via the incredible world of blogging, we can spy a government abuse and cast the harsh light of public scrutiny upon it. And we can do it in the blink of an eye. All we need is our computers and a little Internet access.

But, now gubbmint is trying to find ways to make it harder for us to highlight their evil, wasteful, illegal ways. For now comes the Democrat Party of the State of Washington trying to reinvent bloggers as “lobbyists” so that we can be regulated out of existence.

Or, if they don’t exactly want bloggers regulated out of existence, Democrats at least want to put bloggers in such a position that there are fewer of them because of gubbmint’s onerous regulations.

Continue reading “And Now the Government Comes After the Bloggers?”

00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Media Bias - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Stop the Presses! AP’s Important Story: Obama Had Corned Beef Sandwich for Lunch

November 23, 2008 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Ya gotta hand it to them. The Associated Press knows how to cut out all the extraneous background noise and get right to the important issues of the day. Barack Obama will surely be in the center of the vortex of some of the most important decisions in the world during the next four years and even his preparations for taking office are vitally important as a marker to what he might do in office. There are wars and rumors of wars, disasters and relief efforts and historic decisions will soon be made. But no decision is so important, as the AP dutifully tells us, than the one of what the president elect had for lunch. The shocking, heartwarming and resolute decision the leader of the free world… no the leader of all mankind… made for his lunch was apparently a corned beef sandwich.

Darfur still swirls with genocide, Iran is still making plans to destroy Israel, China is on pace to build the largest most dangerous army on Earth, the European Union still angles to lay America low, but all that pales in comparison to the important report the AP could muster (no, not mustard). Yes, the AP brings us the most salient story of our day: “Obama grabs lunch at local deli, greets patrons.”

Continue reading “Stop the Presses! AP’s Important Story: Obama Had Corned Beef Sandwich for Lunch”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Media Bias - News - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Math is Heroic? Dumbing Down the English Language

November 23, 2008 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Yahoo News featured an interesting short report issued by Agence France-Presse on November 20. In it we discover that a consortium of French, German and Hungarian mathematicians are claiming to have proven that Einstein’s famous equation, e=mc2, is correct. The report is all good except for one very small aspect. They call the effort of these mathematicians “heroic” in contradiction to the root meaning of the word. Mathematics isn’t “heroic” and it is a degradation of true heroics to say it is.

Unfortunately, while a small thing too casually used in the AFP report, it proves a sort of degradation of our language. Not only that, but it further devalues real heroism, making the word mean less with each garbled usage.

Here is how AFP used the word:

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00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Media Bias - Michael M. Bates - News - President - Society/Culture - The Law

Slummin’ with Barry

November 23, 2008 by

-By Michael M. Bates

Mrs. Clinton assumed full taunting mode in a January Democratic presidential candidate debate. She aggressively battled “bad” Republican ideas, she told Obama, “when you were practicing law and representing your contributor, Rezko, in his slumlord business in inner-city Chicago.”

Obama feebly replied he was merely an associate at a law firm that represented a church group working with “this individual” and had done a few hours legal work. Hillary could have attacked Obama for accepting political contributions from Tony Rezko at the same time the real estate wheeler-dealer victimized African-Americans struggling for survival in his properties’ squalid living conditions.

It’s a persistent situation. Barry’s a millionaire, yet seems unable or unwilling to shake his connection with slums.
Continue reading “Slummin’ with Barry”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Gays - Media Bias - Morals/Sex - News - Religion - Society/Culture - The Law

Homosexual Mob Prove they are Fascist Jerks!

November 22, 2008 by

-By Don Boys, Ph.D.

I’m very weary of seeing perverts strut the streets exposing their venom, vileness, and violence toward all who dare disagree with their lifestyle. Or is that death style? Recently WorldNetDaily did an article on a college class president who did not “fully” support the perverted lifestyle of a fellow student. Note that there was no charge of discrimination but it was an opinion that the decent living person did not accept the perversion to the degree that satisfied the pervert! Has the world gone crazy?

Yesterday, WND reported on Christians who were singing in San Francisco’s Castro (homosexual) District and were surrounded by a mob of 500 homosexuals threatening to kill them. One man grabbed a woman’s Bible and hit her over the head with it. The mob chanted, “Shame, shame, shame.” Homosexuals shouting “shame” to praying, singing Christians is like a skunk accusing a rabbit of having bad breath.

Continue reading “Homosexual Mob Prove they are Fascist Jerks!”

00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Flight 93 - Islam - Islamofascism - Media Bias - Military - News - President - Security/Safety - Selwyn Duke - Society/Culture

Obama: Fear and the Security Force

November 22, 2008 by

By Selwyn Duke

In all my life I have never seen such intense emotion surrounding a leader as that evoked by Barack Obama. Even Ronald Reagan, the Gipper himself, didn’t enjoy the kind of prostration of the will offered to the president-elect by hordes of followers. Yet, while people the world over are imbued with “hope” and chant Obama’s slogan “Yes, we can!” — for instance, the French are using their translation of it, “Oui, nous pouvons!” — some of the intense emotion is of a very different species.

It is fear.

In all my life I have never seen an American politician who could make so many Americans’ blood run cold. Some may mention the left’s feelings regarding Reagan or President Bush, but there is no equivalency. For all of leftists’ bluster and melodrama, they weren’t afraid of those men as much as they, well, just hated them. Sure, leftist ideologues said those two Republicans were scary, but the same people also said that each one was both dumb and Machiavellian. Hatred is an emotion, and emotion isn’t logical; it just conjures up whatever feels right at the moment.
Continue reading “Obama: Fear and the Security Force”

00Publius Contributor - Conservatives - Elections - History - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Was Palin the Worst VP Pick Ever?

November 21, 2008 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

We have gone through the first round of internal recriminations with the recent excoriation of Governor Palin by those “unnamed” McCain staffers. But, as we all know, Gov. Palin was the subject of heated debate even among Republicans long before the election. One common complaint was that she was the “worst” VP candidate pick “ever.” But, was she really?

A look at recent history can only serve to deflate that ridiculous claim. There have been far worse picks than Gov. Palin and only the extremely emotional state of mind that this past election ginned up could obscure the historical record. Two of those picks in particular make Palin’s choice rather inspired by comparison.

In the first case George Wallace’s pick of general Curtis LeMay for his vice presidential pick in 1968 was a disaster and in the second George McGovern’s pick of Thomas Eagleton for his in 1972 was even worse — both were far more disastrous than Palin’s. There was some speculation in the media that Palin would suffer Eagleton’s fate, but the situations of the two just don’t bear any resemblance at all.

Continue reading “Was Palin the Worst VP Pick Ever?”

00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Media Bias - News - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Obama: Giving Raspberry to Progressives With Cabinet/Staff Picks?

November 21, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

DailyKos and DemocraticUndergroud types are starting to get a bit miffed at their messiah. So far, no one from their ranks has been given the nod to take a spot on Obama’s staff or to fill his cabinet openings. The “progressives” are noticing, too, that far from bringing a “new” wave of politics to Washington, so far Obama is bringing back the age of Clinton. Instead of Washington becoming Obamopolis, it is a re-birthed Clintonville that is rising like a phoenix from the ashes.

It is certainly too early to claim that Barack Obama is going to be a centrist president like the far lefties fear. After all, he hasn’t even taken office yet. But, one thing that can be said, when evaluating his pick of staffers and cabinet positions thus far, he sure ain’t the candidate of “change” he claimed to be when he was a candidate. Obama has picked no one “new,” no one “different,” and no one “forward looking.” So far, every choice he’s made has either been an old Clintonite or another of those old politicos from the 90s that have been on the outside looking in since the year 2000.

The Progressive magazine, for one, is wondering just what the heck is going on?

Continue reading “Obama: Giving Raspberry to Progressives With Cabinet/Staff Picks?”

00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Business - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Obama Chief of Staff Refuses to Talk ‘Card Check’

November 21, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Wall Street Journal reports that in a meeting with business leaders, Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel refused to reassert the Obama administration’s determination to pursue “card check.”

He was asked his views on the push by labor unions to allow workplaces to be organized with the signing of cards attesting to union support rather than a secret ballot. Mr. Emanuel declined to say whether the White House would support the legislation, but he said the unions are addressing the concerns of a middle class that has seen U.S. median income slide over the past eight years, while health care, energy and education costs have soared.

This is not to say that Obama is necessarily distancing himself from “card check” or from the Employee Free Choice Act, but Emmanuel’s reticence to bring up the issue and reassert the administration’s dedication to the plan is a sign that, if we are lucky, they realize that it isn’t a good move… at least for now.

At the least we’ve got a breather from this jobs killing, union propping law. Let’s hope it is a sign of dropping it but now is not the time to assume.

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00Publius Contributor - Anti-Americanism - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Family - Marie Jon - News - Religion - Society/Culture

America’s future depends on a holy people

November 21, 2008 by

-By Marie Jon’

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

I believe that America will not survive the political and social trials that are to come if we are not engaged in the fight to protect our Christian beliefs. The Ten Commandments, written by the hand of God, are our moral compass. Liberalism has slowly worked its way into mainstream Christian denominations. If it were not so we would have been a wiser people and elected a president who shares the same principles found in the teachings of the Great I Am.

Many evangelicals and Catholics voted in to the office of the presidency America’s most liberal senator on social issues that concern our children’s sexual identity, marriage and the sanctity of human life. All of these extremely important topics appear to be above Barack Hussein Obama’s pay grade. What were these Christians thinking?
Continue reading “America’s future depends on a holy people”

00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Media Only Just Notices Obama Has Thin Resume?

November 20, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Interestingly, Dan Morain of the L.A. Times had discovered back in April that Barack Obama has a pretty thin resume prior to being elevated to the presidency. Between 1993 and ’96, Obama, the much-ballyhooed “Constitutional scholar,” had only an unusually low 3,723 billable hours of legal work accrued over a four-year stint with his law firm employer Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Gallard. Further, he seems to have worked on but few cases and made little impact commensurate with his reputation. Yet, just this month the Orlando Sentinel decides to re-print the Morain piece. The question I have, of course, is why is the Orlando Sentinel only NOW interested that Obama was “involved in relatively few cases before entering politics”? Where was this investigating before the election?

The Morain piece begins by recounting how Obama has so often made a big deal out of his days as a “civil-rights attorney” claiming it a key ingredient of his early, formative community development years. Yet, Morain finds that there isn’t much record proving that Obama did a whole heck-of-a-lot back in those days. (bold mine)

Senior attorneys at the small firm where he worked say he was a strong writer and researcher, but was involved in relatively few cases before entering politics.

So, Obama, for all his claims of being involved in the lives of “churches and community groups” as a lawyer with the firm is… what? Blowing smoke? If the paper trail reveals he didn’t work on many cases or have very many billable hours, how is it that he found this experience to be a monumental involvement in the community that shaped his career?

Continue reading “Media Only Just Notices Obama Has Thin Resume?”

00Publius Contributor - Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Energy - Media Bias - News - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

LA’s Water and Power Board Allowing Union to Program ‘Green ‘ Spending W/O Public Participation?

November 20, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

According to the website CityWatchLA.com, it looks like the Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners seems to be so cozy with its public employees union that it is planning massive new “Green” programs without taking them before the public for approval.

In a piece on a proposed Rate Payers Advocate position to monitor the DWP, Jack Humphreville gave us this interesting tidbit:

The DWP Board of Commissioners claims to be our Watch Dog, and to some degree it may have been when Nick Patsaouras was there. But now, where is the Board on the multibillion dollar Green Initiative? What public outreach has been held? Indeed, the City Council is asking questions that DWP won’t even report back on for months. Who is watching out for the Rate Payers when its main union has a stranglehold not only on labor, but on management too?

And isn’t this same City Council that recently approved, without a dissenting vote, the multibillion dollar Green Initiative without the benefit of DWP’s analysis, a thorough vetting by the Energy and Environment Committee, or even informing the Rate Payers and Neighborhood Councils, despite the fact that the monopoly elements of the initiative could easily cost Rate Payer hundreds of millions of dollars?

The union has so much cash to disseminate amongst politicians in LA that anything it wants it gets, apparently. And it gets it whether the voters are told about it or not.

This is just one more reason that unions are anathema to good government.

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00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Dan Scott - Democrats/Leftists - Health - Media Bias - News - Society/Culture

Private Health Care Alternative To Socialized Medicine

November 20, 2008 by 4 Comments

-By Dan Scott

If anyone has gone through their yearly renewal of health insurance plans either through their company sponsored plan or private insurance plan, the immediate shock was how much monthly insurance premiums actually are. For just a run of the mill plan for a medium sized company over 50 employees, monthly health insurance fees run approximately $400. Depending on the employer, they may pay half to all of that amount. If you want coverage for your spouse and child add another $500 a month usually at the employee cost. Even deductibles can be high in the $1,500/$3,000 (per individual/family). Then come the co-pays the employee pays for doctor and specialist visits which do not apply toward the deductible.

Medical care is not a cheap proposition when one requires it. However, the issue becomes who is responsible for the bill when it comes due. Medical care like any service in the market place is an individual responsibility for the consumer, not a government issued right at the taxpayer’s expense. This is where Socialists and Capitalists depart company since Socialists define health care as a basic human necessity that must be underwritten by society. To a Capitalist, medical care like eating, housing and clothing is a personal responsibility governed by individual choice, not subject to government meddling. The only common ground is providing for a legal means to recover damages when that care is done poorly or negligently resulting in injury or death.
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00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Media Bias - News - Podcasting - President - Republicans - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Warner Todd Huston vs Crooks and Liars

November 19, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I was asked to be a part of a podcast for http://www.skewz.com. The quality of the recording is not so hot, but that is a minor annoyance. At least you can understand all involved for the most part. Go on over and give it a listen.

Skewz Podcast #36: Sound-Off- Mike Finnigan of Crooks and Liars and Warner Todd Huston of NewsBusters Talk About Media Bias in the 2008 Election

We had a blast speaking to Mike Finnigan of Crooksandliars.com and Warner Todd Huston of Newsbusters.org. We discussed how the media may have played a role, if any, in the 2008 election. Mike was in rare form and Warner and I had a good time keeping up with him. Of course, Warner felt the treatment of Palin was especially abusive. Mike, as you might have guessed, didn’t entirely agree. Listen in and decide what you think.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Mike and Warner as much as we did.

00Publius Contributor - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

He Said, She Said

November 19, 2008 by

Why The Finger Pointing Aids Democrats
-By Warner Todd Huston

We have gone through the first round of internal recriminations with the recent excoriation of Governor Palin by those “unnamed” McCain staffers. We are also starting to see a few hints of the slaps for John McCain more of which will soon come from amongst GOP faithful. But, while the media loves the bashing, this internal carping does nothing to help us at all. And most especially, breaking out the long knives for our own will only strengthen Barack Obama by cementing in the voter’s minds that the GOP is in permanent disarray setting Obama up to create a Democratic majority that will be difficult to defeat.

First of all, the attacks on Governor Palin are sure to cleave this party in half if they continue. The candidacy of Palin highlighted the split in the Republican Party that has been there since Reagan forged a new GOP majority to support his bid for the White House in 1980. Palin does not appeal to what used to be called the country club Republicans but she appeals very much to the family values voters that Reagan brought into the Party. In fact, she doesn’t just appeal to them, she excites them.

Continue reading “He Said, She Said”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Jobs - Media Bias - News - Society/Culture - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Calif. Lawmakers Try SEIU Intervention

November 19, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Services Employee International Union (SEIU) is still making plans to initiate a hostile take over of its sister union in California, the United Healthcare Workers (UHW), by imposing a trusteeship upon them, ousting the UHW’s elected officers.

Now more than 240 lawmakers and community organizers in California have signed an open letter calling for the SEIU to jettison its hostile plans and to peaceably settle with the UHW.

The signers include some of the most prominent Democrats and liberal community organizers in the San Francisco Bay Area. But thus far the entreaty seems to be falling on deaf ears at the SEIU’s main office in Washington DC.

This entire dustup shows the ruthlessness with which SEIU President Andy Stern uses to control the SEIU. Stern imagines his reach will eventually go as far as to begin to control aspects of our government. This sort of powermongering should serve as a warning to anyone imagining that Andy Stern is a desirable addition to Obama’s governing council.

Stern is so headstrong that, to satisfy his need for personal power, he even seems to be willing to stick his finger in the eye of pols and activists on his own side.

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00Publius Contributor - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Media Bias - News - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Vince Johnson

Grandiose Double Dipping Flip Flap

November 19, 2008 by

-By Vince Johnson

What percentage of the U.S. population understands the language used by those assigned to the task of getting our economy back on course? Take this quick test and you’ll see what I’m driving at:

Q: What does “PWG” stand for? A: President’s Working Group on Financial Markets.  
Q: When was the “PWG” established? A: Undetermined. Best guess is “recently”.  
Q: What authority does the “PWG” have? A: Undetermined.  
Q: What is an “Initiative to strengthen OTC Derivatives Oversight and Infrastructure”? A: Huh? Duh!  
Q: What is a “Credit Default Swap Central Counterparty”? A: Grandiose double-dipping-flip-flap if I ever heard it.

The above questions are based upon a News Released issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury on November 14, 2008. The first three paragraphs are quoted below. If you want the full text let me know and I’ll send it. You can also get to it using Google with key words “U.S. Department of Treasury News Releases”.
Continue reading “Grandiose Double Dipping Flip Flap”

00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Media Bias - News - President - Race - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

ABC 7 Chicago Gushes: Michelle ‘Breaks Barriers for African-Americans’… as a Wife?

November 18, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

ABC Channel 7 in Chicago aired a “Special Report” on Sunday night, November 16, in which they gushed that Michelle Obama was going to “break down barriers” for America’s black women. Reporter Cheryl Burton waxed poetic, moon-eyed over the fact that a black woman was soon take her place as first lady of the United States, wife to the president. But, that’s just it… wife to the president. Not to belittle the important role that a wife has in a marriage (or a husband has for that matter), and not to diminish the importance of traditional marriage, but a wife is not an elected position. It is not one with the sort of power to be “transformational.” On top of that, the role of first lady should not be considered a role with power or one capable of transformation!

To be sure, we have to be honest about the triumphalism on Obama’s behalf and realize that it truly is expected, even healthy. Obama marks the final piece of the puzzle of repairing American race relations. Blacks really have gone from the lowest of chattel slavery to seeing one of their own elected to run the country and we should all marvel at and be grateful for that fact. No one should try to belittle this achievement. But, one must be careful not to make of it more than it is. Obama is not the first piece, but the last. We should not celebrate as if he’s the only good break blacks have ever gotten in the US. To do so belittles all the many examples of progress that came before him. And his wife has no formal part in it at all. She was not elected to first lady and she does not hold an office in government.

But ABC can’t help itself.

Continue reading “ABC 7 Chicago Gushes: Michelle ‘Breaks Barriers for African-Americans’… as a Wife?”

00Publius Contributor - Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Media Bias - News - President - Race - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

‘Proud to be an American… Finally’?

November 18, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I really hated Jimmy Carter. I felt Bill Clinton was a disgrace as a man much less a president even though his administration wasn’t half as bad as Carter’s, admittedly. Historically, FDR proved to be a president that introduced more anti-American ideas into our political system than any other. As to the future, Obama could be a humongous disaster for this country. But through all of those horrible leaders of American history, I was still — am still — proud to be an American. I have always been happy to wave the flag or argue our merits with a snooty European, and I’ve always gotten a thrill up my leg on Independence Day (with apologies to Chris Matthews for stealing his obsequiousness). Who the president was didn’t make me less an American, or less willing to be one.

But not so with liberals. So often, it seems that liberals have no self worth unless they win elections. To liberals America cannot be “good” unless liberals are in charge. Without liberals in the lead they cannot be proud of America. This is once again proven by a columnist with the Philadelphia Tribune who has announced to the world that she was never proud of America until the evening of November fourth when The One ascended to the highest office in the land.

Continue reading “‘Proud to be an American… Finally’?”

00Publius Contributor - Barack Obama - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Jobs - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Denver Post Now Against Card Check?

November 18, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Now that their messiah, The One, “O”bama is fairly elected… NOW the Denver Post comes out to attack the Democrat’s and the union’s idea of “card check”? Apparently so, because on November 16, the Post had an editorial titled “Paying off labor harmful to unity.”

And, boy, they don’t just mince around the issue, either.

Obama and the Democratic majority should resist the urge to pay off organized labor by passing the divisive and unnecessary law known as “card check.”

Nothing equivocating with that line, sure enough.

Continue reading “Denver Post Now Against Card Check?”

00Publius Contributor - Conservatives - Education - Family - Lee Culpepper - Morals/Sex - News - Society/Culture

A Letter to My Wrestlers

November 18, 2008 by

-By Lee Culpepper

Note to readers: I felt compelled to publish this letter because of the direction that half of America seems to want to take this country. Most of my wrestlers are new to the sport. Due to the hard work and tough nature that wrestling requires, more than 50% of the boys who attended the first practice quit within the first week. As an English teacher also, I have seen the same lack of perseverance and work ethic in the classroom, and it saddens me. I don’t know that my philosophy is the answer to this problem. But I do know the answer does not exist in telling kids—or anyone– that they “deserve” or are “entitled” to anything just because they are Americans. I also know that most of my athletes and students perform better when they take this message to heart.

Dear Wrestlers and Parents,

I would like to use this opportunity to share some thoughts with you regarding our upcoming season. Among my own goals, I want each of you (wrestlers) to develop qualities that will help you succeed both on and off the mat. In life, it is important for you to appreciate that what we obtain or accomplish too easily, we tend to value too lightly. Most accomplishments that are meaningful and worthwhile require hard work and dedication. To be successful, you must be willing to make sacrifices concerning your free time. Working when you may not feel like working is not always fun (just ask your parents), but it always pays off if you have the discipline to do it.
Continue reading “A Letter to My Wrestlers”

00Publius Contributor - 1st Amendment - Barack Obama - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Media Bias - News - President - Republicans - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Boston Globe: Talk Radio Now ‘Irrelevant’?

November 17, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like a couple of fellows pushing a book were able to convince the Boston Globe to let them contribute some soothsaying about the future of talk radio. Scratch that, they are talking about today, here and now — and it’s all bad. In the Boston Globe, Steve Elman and Alan Tolz have proclaimed “the rising irrelevance of talk radio,” so Rush… fuggedaboutit. Hannity… go back to house painting. Michael Savage… go back to whatever the heck it was you were doing before you were “Michael Savage.” It’s over. Just like when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor (excuse my John Belushi). Finis ( a little French lingo there).

Unfortunately for Elman and Tolz, though, it appears that they don’t even have their main facts straight, much less a crystal ball successfully tuned into the state of talk radio today. In fact, they get something wrong in their very first sentence.

Continue reading “Boston Globe: Talk Radio Now ‘Irrelevant’?”

00Publius Contributor - Budget - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Media Bias - News - Republicans - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

MSNBC Pronounces Auto Industry ‘Needs’ Bailout, Says Republicans Tell Industry to ‘Drop Dead’

November 17, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, I guess that settles it. We don’t need any political discussion or economist’s studies. The auto industry officially needs a bailout. It’s just a fact. After all, MSNBC and BusinessWeek have just said it. The auto industry “needs” one or it cannot survive. Oh, yeah, and MSNBC is also informing the world that Republicans have told auto workers to “drop dead.” I think this is what the Old Media calls “news.”

This story by David Kiley of BusinessWeek is amazing for its assumptions, pronouncements and slanted anti-capatilist rhetoric and it boggles the mind that it could be called journalism. It certainly isn’t “news” because of all the personal opinions that Kiley pads this thing with, anyway.

Continue reading “MSNBC Pronounces Auto Industry ‘Needs’ Bailout, Says Republicans Tell Industry to ‘Drop Dead’”

00Publius Contributor - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - News - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Unions Killing Detroit

November 17, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Dan Ikenson of the CATO Institute has another great posting on the “cancer” that is unions in the U.S. auto making industry.

A Cancer on the Big Three

If you’ve followed developments in the auto industry at any time during the past couple couple decades, you’ve probably heard of GM’s “Jobs Bank.” This nausea-inducing scam was the concoction of the UAW in the 1980s. Rather than allow GM to layoff workers when conditions warranted, the UAW had GM assign workers to the Jobs Bank, where they were paid almost full wages and benefits NOT to work. The Jobs Bank was pitched nominally as a retraining program, where workers would acquire the skills and train themselves in the technologies and techniques of the future, or where “workers” could perform community services.

Continue reading “Unions Killing Detroit”

00Publius Contributor - Budget - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - John Armor - News - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Taxes - The Law

The Pinball Bailout?

November 17, 2008 by

-By John Armor

Is the proposed bailout of the “big three” auto makers really for them? Or is it something else entirely?

Here I sit in a farmhouse on the Eastern Continental Divide. From my front porch, I can see most of upstate South Carolina. In that territory are several auto manufacturing plants that are doing just fine, thank-you-very-much. To my left, or west, is the Tennessee border. Over those mountains are several more auto plants which are quite healthy, also.

So, let’s chuck in the trash the idea that auto manufacturing in the US is failing generally. It isn’t. It is just the “big three” American manufacturers. Properly, it should be called the “big two and a half,” since Chrysler is in the bucket, once again.
Continue reading “The Pinball Bailout?”

00Publius Contributor - Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Denver Post Now Against Card Check?

November 17, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Now that their messiah, The One, “O”bama is fairly elected… NOW the Denver Post comes out to attack the Democrat’s and the union’s idea of “card check”? Apparently so, because on November 16, the Post had an editorial titled “Paying off labor harmful to unity.”

And, boy, they don’t just mince around the issue, either.

Obama and the Democratic majority should resist the urge to pay off organized labor by passing the divisive and unnecessary law known as “card check.”

Nothing equivocating with that line, sure enough.
Continue reading “Denver Post Now Against Card Check?”