Clipmarks | bilber99's clips

What is Middle Class?

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:57:48 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: Tucked away in this unenlightening little column that I'm not sure why I read is an unintended gem. Howard clearly things that $100K is "rich". A couple of middle aged high school teachers in most areas make $100k. Do they believe they are rich?

Clip Source: www.newsweek.com

To be sure, Hillary had her lame moments. She airily dismissed the NAFTA debate in 1993 as a cavalcade of "charts," forgetting, perhaps, that union members think they have lost a million jobs as a result of the deal. And she attempted to defend the idea that people making $97,000 a year are members of the "middle class." That's true enough for some people—the ones who think it's reasonable to have diamonds and pearls.

Tags: politics

How FDR Viewed Americans

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:20:51 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: FDR developed the idea of buying votes, but never paid the cost because he was smart enough to devices like Social Security that wouldn't explode until decades after his death, and he was lucky enough to have WWII to end the depression.

Clip Source: www.townhall.com

Stupid, Ignorant or Biased?

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's closest adviser and architect of the New Deal, Harry Hopkins, advised, "Tax and tax, spend and spend, elect and elect, because the people are too damn dumb to know the difference." Professor Bryan Caplan, my colleague at George Mason University, sheds some light on Hopkins' observation in his new book, "The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies."

Caplan is far more generous than Hopkins. Instead, he says people harbor economic biases, several of which he discusses.

Tags: politics, econ

NYT, MoveOn.org , What's the difference?

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:29:56 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: Those Republicans, can't they just shut up and sit down? Yes, Giuliani is talking, but what is important is the the MSM makes sure it is clear that HE is talking, other than lebeling him as an "R" (which means "don't tust him"), they have nothing to say on the likes of MoveOn calling a current military commander a liar and a betrayer of the country he is sworn to serve. It is pretty doubful if any of the left even understands the concept of honor and being willing to die for principles.

Hillary came close to calling Petraeus a "liar". The idea that Hillary has any concept of anything related to "truth or honor" is ridiculous. Hillary always was and always will be about "power for Hillary". It makes no difference what cost it takes for her to get that.

When the Swift Boat guys were out, we heard a lot of complaints about "how bad those orgs are". Of course MoveOn? Not a problem; "All in the Family" for the NYT.

Clip Source: politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com

Giuliani blasts NY Times for MoveOn ad

(CNN) — MoveOn.org's New York Times ad calling into question Gen. David Petraeus' testimony before Congress drew more Republican ire Thursday — this time over the price the non-profit political advocacy group paid for the full-page ad.

The New York Post, citing MoveOn.org, reported Thursday that the organization paid $65,000 for the ad, calling it a $116,000 discount from the Times' usual $167,000 price. That prompted a pair of GOP presidential candidates to complain.

MoveOn.org's ad appeared in the Times on Tuesday, the first day of Petraeus' testimony. Under the headline "General Petraeus or General Betray Us," the ad said that the top military commander in Iraq "will not admit what everyone knows: Iraq is mired in an unwinnable religious civil war." It also suggested that Petraeus' testimony was influenced by the White House.

Tags: politics, medai

Seeing What We Want to See

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:16:16 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: This is a perfect case of how bias affects the interpretation of results. Is the ability to stick to a position good or bad? Like a lot of things, "it depends". If you love your wife and she is leaving because she has a hard time sticking to things, then you might like her to be more "conservative". If you want to move and she wants to stay where you are, then you might like her to be more liberal.

The old adage that optimist finds the glass half full, the pessimist half empty, and the engineer finds the glass twice as big as it needs to be, comes to mind. All are "right", but I'd argue that the engineer is much close to "science". Science is NOT about values. It is about data, information, models, etc. When there is an attempt to make science into a religion (as atheists often do, because they realize that "something is missing"), there is a big problem. Science truly is "the God that doesn't care"; by definition.

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

The claim: Politically liberal brains are better at handling change

A recent report in Nature Neuroscience has gotten a lot of press. The headlines proclaim that "left-wing" brains are different from "right wing" brains. Are our brains literally hard-wired to be conservative or liberal? The article in the L.A. Times sure seems to suggest it:

Sulloway said the results could explain why President Bush demonstrated a single-minded commitment to the Iraq war and why some people perceived Sen. John F. Kerry, the liberal Massachusetts Democrat who opposed Bush in the 2004 presidential race, as a "flip-flopper" for changing his mind about the conflict.

In other words, liberals are more likely than conservatives to have a strong response in the area of the brain used to inhibit responses at the time when they are supposed to inhibit response. So is this why Bush invaded Iraq and Kerry flip-flopped?

Tags: politics, science

Swift Boating?

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 03:22:43 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: Note, "Swift Boating" can only be done from the right. Here we have MoveOn.org attacking an ACTIVE decorated US General; but where is the "outrage"? Remember when poor John Kerry, the guy that compared US Soldiers to Genghis Khan and threw his (well, on further review, actually "someone else's" medals over the WH fence back in the '70's? He was VICOUSLY attacked by "political dirty tricks", so nasty they raised a whole new evil REPUBLICAN category of "Swift Boating'.

Want to bet if there will be any big MSM rundowns of MoveOn donor lists for possible connections to Democrat surrender strategy? Don't hold your breath.

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

GOP calls on top Senate Dem to condemn anti-Petraeus ad

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republicans have seized on a liberal advocacy group's print ad attacking Gen. David Petraeus and have called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to denounce it.

In the ad, running in Monday's edition of The New York Times, bold letters under a picture of Petraeus spell out "General Petraeus or General Betray us?"

"Every major independent study and many major news organizations cast serious doubt on Petraeus' claims," said Eli Pariser, executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action Committee.

Tags: politics, media

Osama bin Chomsky

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 18:46:40 GMT

clipped by: bilber99

Clip Source: www.powerlineblog.com

Osama bin Chomsky

The transcript of Osama bin Laden's newest video, in which he speaks directly to American listeners, is available here. It is intensely interesting, for a number of reasons.

First, the subject matter is Iraq, almost exclusively. Bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders have said that Iraq is the main front in their global war against us.

Second, the affinity between Muslim extremism and Western leftism has never been so clearly displayed. Bin Laden sounds for all the world like a Marxist. He praises Noam Chomsky as one of the "most capable" of American war opponents. Over and over, he attributes American foreign policy to "the owners of the major corporations." In bin Laden's view, "[t]hose with real power and influence are those with the most capital," and "the essence of man-made positive laws is that they serve the interests of those with capital and thus make the rich richer and the poor poorer."

Tags: politcs, terrorism

Osama is Next

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:07:58 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: Good Castro got his endorsement in early, he may not make 2008. Osama, Kim-Jung, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Iran), along with the MSM and Hollywood are in full agreement.

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

Castro: Clinton-Obama ticket 'invincible'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Add another name to the list of political observers who think a Clinton-Obama ticket would be unbeatable: Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Tags: politics

Hypocrisy: A sin the left almost recognizes.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:59:30 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: It appears that we have a Republican Senator not practicing what he preaches. No doubt his constituency will turn him out of office if he isn't forced to resign beforehand.

It is a great opportunity to understand the difference between right and left. Bill Clinton SIGNED a sexual harassment law that said that "sexual harassment is determined by how the person harassed FEELS". The left had no problem with him defending himself with and beyond any shred of reason to save his skin and save raw political power.

Conservatives won't give the political power a second thought. Principles are more important than power, because if you lose your principles that provide meaning beyond mere existence, then you really have you life.

Your principles and spirit are about eternity, political power is for just as season. Are conservatives any "better"? No; only in the sense that they better understand the reality of our condition.

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

updated 2 minutes ago

Police report: Senator signaled desire for 'lewd conduct

Story Highlights
NEW: Group files ethics complaint against Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho
Craig charged with disorderly conduct at Minnesota airport in June
Airport police officer reports senator peered into stall, gave signals
Senator denies any inappropriate conduct
Next Article in Politics »

(CNN) -- Sen. Larry Craig peered through a crack in a restroom stall door for two minutes and made gestures suggesting he wanted to engage in "lewd conduct," according to the police officer who arrested him.

Tags: politics, bias

Hillary on Rove Obession

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:12:22 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: When Hillary "vast right wing conspiracy" speaks on obsession, one ought to listen well. It seems that at least she has succeeded in making sure that her husband isn't obsessed with her, so maybe she will be able to have some success with Rove as well. It always seems clear that at least for Hillary it is indeed always all about Hillary.

Interesting how given the NYT, Washington Post, NPR, CBS, CNN, MSNBC ... and a cast of 100's, poor Hillary laments the "attack machine". Oh, that is right, to agree with Hillary is to be "factual", to disagree with her is to be part of "conspiracy" and "attack machines". Just the kind of level headed ration view of the world that many will find as a big improvement in leadership.

Clip Source: politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com

When Clinton was asked about remarks from Rove, she attempted to cast her negative ratings in a positive light.

"But I find it interesting he's so obsessed with me. And I think the reason is because we know how to win," she said.

"The idea that you're going to escape the Republican attack machine and not have high negatives by the time they're through with you, I think, is just missing what's been going on in American politics for the last 20 years," Clinton added.

Tags: politics

Iraqi Prostitutes Are Democrats!

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:55:20 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: Hey, things MUST be getting better in Iraq, the worst news available for a CNN headline was "Impoverished women turn to prostitution". I'm not positive, but I don' think Iraq is the first time that has happened in world history. These women are just like Democrats though, "everything is for the kids". The mind of the MSM is always a tough one -- mine collapses in Utah, instability in the financial markets, but low cost prostitution in Iraq is the CNN Headline? Listening to NPR discuss the problems of cheap foreign imports in Iraq this AM made is almost enough to make one believe in a "vast left wing conspiracy".

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

Iraqi women turn to prostitution to feed kids

The women are too afraid and ashamed to show their faces, having been driven into prostitution to help support their families amid war. They make as little as $8 a day. "Everything is for the children," one mother told CNN. full story

$8 a day is enough to endure shame

Tags: iraq, politics

Top 10 Qualities Executives Seek in Up-and-Comers

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:56:31 GMT

clipped by: bilber99

Clip Source: www.cnet.com

Ten qualities executives seek in up-and-comers:

Passion. Driven to get the job done and do it right; passion for one's function, the marketplace, the company's product, work in general; high energy level

Intelligence. There's no substitute for intelligence, with emphasis on insight, analysis of complex problems, deductive reasoning, out of the box thinking

Fearless. Willing to take risks, embrace new challenges, make mistakes, and say what's on one's mind without fear of consequences; opposite of CYA mentality

Leadership. Innate ability to motivate people to willingly do one's bidding, especially when there's no direct benefit for them to do so

Can-do attitude. Simple put, everything is "no problem;" somehow finds a way to make it happen with minimal supervision; respect for "the customer"

Work ethic. Committed to working long and hard for the fulfillment of a job well done; respect for business and work; clarity in knowing right from wrong

Tags: business

A Turn in Iraq?

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:39:04 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: The are some signs that the ranks of the hopeless may be faced with the topic that they hate the very most: hope.

Clip Source: www.weeklystandard.com

The Turn

Defeatists in retreat.

For the Iraq war's opponents, July began as a month of hope. It ended in retreat. It began with Democratic unity in proclaiming the inevitability of American defeat. It ended with respected military analysts--Democrats, no less!--reporting that the situation on the ground had improved, and that the war might be winnable. It began with a plan for a series of votes in Congress that were supposed to stampede nervous Republicans against the continued prosecution of the war. It ended with the GOP spine stiffened, no antiwar legislation passed, and the Democratic Congress adjourning in disarray, with approval ratings lower than President Bush's. It began with Democratic presidential candidates competing in their antiwar pandering. It ended with them having second thoughts--with Barack Obama, losing ground to Hillary Clinton because he seemed naive about real world threats, frantically suggesting that he would invade Pakistan.

Tags: politics, iraq

Non-Partisan Bridge to Anger

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:18:23 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: The nice thing about the unbiased MSM and Democrats is that they don't play negative politics like Republicans. We all understand that more money and more taxes solve all problems in the public sector, but are a negative in the private sector. It is just a fact. We also know that nobody should expect a bridge to last over 40 years, and that Government in '67 was all under Republican control and being done "on the cheap".

All it takes for humans to create perfection is more dollars in the public secoor--there is no reason to even look for a cause before we reach that conclusion. More public money is a universal good, a more private money is a universal evil. Life is simple, let the righteous anger begin.

"Everyone but wingnuts in coonskin caps". Once we get the fairness doctrine back we can get rid of those nasty right-wing oafs like Limbaugh and only have unbiased decent guys like Coleman so our politics can be "civil".

Clip Source: www.startribune.com

Nick Coleman: Public anger will follow our sorrow

The cloud of dust above the Mississippi that rose after the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed Wednesday evening has dissipated. But there are other dark clouds still hanging over Minneapolis and Minnesota.

For half a dozen years, the motto of state government and particularly that of Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been No New Taxes. It's been popular with a lot of voters and it has mostly prevailed. So much so that Pawlenty vetoed a 5-cent gas tax increase - the first in 20 years - last spring and millions were lost that might have gone to road repair. And yes, it would have fallen even if the gas tax had gone through, because we are years behind a dangerous curve when it comes to the replacement of infrastructure that everyone but wingnuts in coonskin caps agree is one of the basic duties of government.

Tags: politics, media

NYT Error: Good News From Iraq Printed

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:30:59 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: Wow, Brookings and NYT, somebody was asleep at the switch. I guess it is the time of the year when most folks are ignoring the news, so it is a great chance for some lefties to give us that old "unbiased" feint and claim "the report it all". This will of course be ignored and buried by the Defeat-O-crats, as the worst kind of "bad news". Just like Global Warming, defeat in Iraq is one of those stories with no other side.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Op-Ed Contributor

A War We Just Might Win

By MICHAEL E. O’HANLON and KENNETH M. POLLACK

Published: July 30, 2007

Here is the most important thing Americans need to understand: We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms. As two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration’s miserable handling of Iraq, we were surprised by the gains we saw and the potential to produce not necessarily “victory” but a sustainable stability that both we and the Iraqis could live with.

Tags: iraq

Human Nature

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:47:20 GMT

clipped by: bilber99
clipper's remarks: Our "hardware" is really "wet-ware", and it certainly has tendencies. If one believes that humans are "more than matter", then there are other factors, but these almost certainly have some impact.

Clip Source: www.psychologytoday.com

Why most suicide bombers are Muslim, beautiful people have more daughters, humans are naturally polygamous, sexual harassment isn't sexist, and blonds are more attractive.

Human nature is one of those things that everybody talks about but no one can define precisely. Every time we fall in love, fight with our spouse, get upset about the influx of immigrants into our country, or go to church, we are, in part, behaving as a human animal with our own unique evolved nature—human nature.

Tags: biol