"If all you guys are going to do all summer long is follow the MSM CW that every Democratic nominee is a flip-flopper and that everything a Democrat says in the summer is calculated to move to the middle, exactly what purpose do you serve in the grand scheme of things?"

To report the facts?

Posted at July 4, 2008 4:05 PM in response to Obama: Mental Distress Shouldn't Qualify As Exception For Late-Term Abortion

Thanks, Dean, for the excellent analysis and the spot-on, encouraging observation about it taking a movement to effect change.

What most excites me, though, is your two papers*, which you linked to under "hugely distortionary" and "protection." I had no idea this kind of think was going on in the progressive sphere and I'm absolutely delighted by it.

I've only scanned them, but it's enough for me to highly recommend them to anyone with an interest in political economics -- which is going to have to be a great many more people than are interested now, if any kind of movement is to develop.

You now also have me curious as to whether you've read Henry George's ~Progress and Poverty~ or are at all familiar with him?

* "The Artistic Freedom Voucher: An Internet Age Alternative to Copyrights"

* "Financing Drug Research: What Are the Issues?"

Posted at June 12, 2008 5:09 PM in response to Why Obama Should Have Picked Me

Indeed it should have been. Mental lapse. Thanks for the correction.

Posted at June 11, 2008 5:20 AM in response to Top Lieberman Campaign Official: We Begged Obama For Help In 2006 -- And He Came Through

He failed the "Is Lieberman is a treacherous, Jewish-lobby, sack of shit?" test.

Posted at June 10, 2008 5:13 PM in response to Top Lieberman Campaign Official: We Begged Obama For Help In 2006 -- And He Came Through

"Wes Clark, anyone?"

You mean this Wes Clark, right?

"And I'm very glad we've got the great team in office, men like Colin Powell, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice... people I know very well - our president George W. Bush. We need them there." - Clark in remarks delivered at the Pulaski County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner in Little Rock, Arkansas on May 11, 2001

http://www.zpub.com/un/clark.html

Posted at June 10, 2008 2:19 PM in response to Obama's Veep Vetting Team Discussing "Former Military Leaders," Other "Outside The Box" Names

When I wrote it, it was a rather late addition to the conversation, what with they speed with which things come and go here, and I wondered if anyone would even read it. So, thanks for the delightful surprise of your appreciation. :)

Posted at June 8, 2008 7:01 AM in response to Obama Called Hillary After Speech -- Honors Her For "Valiant And Historic Campaign"

That isn't what I meant. And you're not addressing what I wrote. But continue to be as thick as a brick without me.

Posted at June 8, 2008 6:44 AM in response to Obama on Jerusalem: Why the Fuss?

Inspired!

Posted at June 7, 2008 7:51 PM in response to The Whitey Tape!!!! Michelle Obama Exposed!!!!!

My intention wasn't to criticise Clinton. I wanted to repudiate the notion expressed by Greg that her less than admirable behaviour since February is in any way justified, let alone meritorious, because, as one of its consequences, Obama became a better candidate.

Good is never the consequence of evil. When it looks like it might be, it's because one is neglecting to give credit where it is due: to whomever responded to evil with good.

Obama may be better than most at this. He may have gotten better at it as a consequence of being obliged to respond to Clinton. Or he may not have. He may even have gotten worse at it. I don't know. But if he did get better, it would be entirely to his credit and not at all to hers.

Posted at June 7, 2008 7:26 PM in response to Obama Called Hillary After Speech -- Honors Her For "Valiant And Historic Campaign"

I've just watched it. Fascinating. So much going on. I wish I could get into people's heads now and then.

Posted at June 7, 2008 6:39 PM in response to Hillary: Time To "Write The Next Chapter In America's Story"