Morning epiphany

Despite the intuitive attractiveness of the ideal of markets unencumbered by regulations upon transactions between informed, consenting participants, such a state of affairs is impossible to implement morally, because many transactions have adverse effects on unknowing, nonconsenting third parties.

Today is Memorial Day, and we are at war, again

Today is Memorial Day, which, in paper, is set aside to honor those who serve the national interest in the armed forces. But no one, at least no one conducting the most attended conversations on the national stage, is discussing the servicemen and women we have inLibyaright now. Nor are they discussing the violations of [...]

“Deather” conspiracy theory claims bin Laden not dead, or was never alive to begin with, or something

Via Brian Smith and Byron Tau in Politico: [W]hile [a] watery grave may help diminish bin Laden’s status as a martyr to his followers, it was already fueling conspiracy theories; as the administration resisted releasing even photographs of the slain terrorist leader on Monday, a predictable haze of myth and rumor had already, inevitably, begun to [...]

Tea Party Nation founder: bin Laden “does represent the mainstream of Islam”

I’m reminded of a Dave Chappelle bit when he asks, “Have you ever had something happen that was so racist, that you didn’t even get mad?” But this will make a lot of people really mad, and righteously so. Via Right Wing Watch (Tea Party Nation’s site is pay-only), Judson Phillips, the head of Tea Party [...]

White House counterterrorism adviser: “Inconceivable” OBL had no Pakistani aid

Via The Hill: President Obama’s top counterterrorism adviser called it “inconceivable” that Pakistan was not providing a “support system” for Osama bin Laden, who was killed Sunday in a raid in a mansion north of the capital city of Islamabad. “We are pursuing all leads on this issue,” Deputy National Security Adviser John Brennan said [...]

The 2012 GOP field reacts to OBL death

Via Rachel Weiner of the Washington Post: In the reactions from the 2012 field thus far, it’s notable that not everyone makes mention of President Obama… Mitt Romney: “This is a great victory for lovers of freedom and justice everywhere. Congratulations to our intelligence community, our military and the president. My thoughts are with the [...]

Former MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty announces 2012 bid

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has announced of the formation of an exploratory committee. Like most candidate propaganda, it’s comically self-congratulating. Tim Pawlenty has been to almost all of the states! Tim Pawlenty put on a jumpsuit and talked to factory people! Tim Pawlenty plays touch football with small children, and his team probably won, because Tim Pawlenty is strong, [...]

Americans, unsurprisingly, have terrible tastes in presidents

Via Gallup: Kennedy, Obama, and especially George W. Bush have no business breaking the top ten. But there they are. And apparently heaping strong words on an empire already crumbling under the weight of its own untenable economic system trumps dragging the country back from schism and abolishing the cruelest institution every to pollute our country.

“I have lots of options for the future”

Sharron Angle, the failed 2010 GOP nominee for Harry Reid’s Senate seat, who suggested “second amendment remedies” to Obama’s policies, used air quotes around the word “autism,” mocked the concept of paid maternity leave because ”I’m not gonna have any more babies,”  who told a roomful of Latino students “ look a little more Asian to me”, who once belonged [...]

Newt Gingrich tells Georgia GOP meeting he’ll run in 2012, spokesman backtracks

Via MSNBC: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has told several prominent Republicans in his former state of Georgia that he intends to run for president in 2012, according to an online column Friday in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Gingrich told them that he plans to use Georgia as a base for his campaign and is looking for [...]