Camille Paglia Day!

I have state on more than one occasion that Camille Paglia is "My favorite liberal" , and she just continues to edify my respect for her.
Honestly, is there a more intelligent and respectful thinker on the left? I think not. Paglia continues to astound me; I never thought I could understand, enjoy, and (GASP) at times agree with as ardent a liberal as Paglia...and yet, here I am. I appreciate her intellectual curiosity and honesty. Unlike many on the Left and Right, Paglia is willing to think for herself and chooses to disagree with liberal orthodoxy when logic and reality tell her to do so. There are maddeningly few pundits willing to do that.
I have clipped a few of my favorite lines out from her latest question and answer session.

* "...but Harry Reid is a cadaverous horse's ass of mammoth proportions. How in the world did that whiny, sniveling incompetent end up as Senate majority leader? Give him the hook!"
* The entire last paragraph of page one where she derides Katie Couric as the "stupidest person to ever interview her".
* "If there's anything that demonstrates the straying of the Democratic Party leadership from basic liberal principles, it's this blasted Fairness Doctrine -- which should be fiercely opposed by all defenders of free speech."
* "Liberals, who go all hushed and pious at Hays Code censorship in classic Hollywood, should lay off the lynch-mob mentality. Keep the feds out of radio!" * "Until I see stronger evidence, I will continue to believe that climate change is primarily driven by solar phenomena and that it is normal for the earth to pass through major cooling and warming phases."
* "But retrospective psychohistory is out these days, and the only game in town is pin the tail on the oppressor."
* " The American system of higher education has become an insane assembly line -- bankrupting families to process hapless students through an incoherent, haphazard and mediocre liberal arts curriculum."

I think what I most appreciate about Paglia is that she is always so respectful of those who disagree with her. To me her writing is like intellectual poetry. Her words are full and satisfying and each article is sumptuous to read ... almost like a meal of words.
If you haven't done so yet, I would suggest searching out more of Paglia's articles and taking the time to get to know this splendid writer. Keep an open mind, and remember that just because she is an ardent liberal does not mean she doesn't have important thoughts to add to our collective discourse.

Taxes? We don't need no stinkin' taxes!

Common Sense from Wichita Falls:
"Dear IRS,
I am sorry to inform you that I will not be able to pay taxes owed April 15, but all is not lost.
I have paid these taxes: accounts receivable tax, building permit tax, CDL tax, cigarette tax, corporate income tax, dog licence tax, federal income tax, unemployment tax, gasoline tax, hunting licence tax, fishing licence tax, waterfowl stamp tax, inheritance tax, inventory tax, liquor tax, luxury tax, medicare tax, city, school and county property tax (up 33 percent last 4 years), real estate tax, social security tax, road usage tax, toll road tax, state and city sales tax, recreational vehicle tax, state franchise tax, state unemployment tax, telephone federal excise tax, telephone federal state and local surcharge tax, telephone minimum usage surcharge tax, telephone state and local tax, utility tax, vehicle licence registration tax, capitol gains tax, lease severance tax, oil and gas assessment tax, Colorado property tax, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma and New Mexico sales tax, and many more that I can’t recall but I have run out of space and money.
When you do not receive my check April 15, just know that it is an honest mistake. Please treat me the same way you treated Congressmen Charles Rangle, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and ex-Congressman Tom Daschle and, of course, your boss Timothy Geithner. No penalties and no interest.
P.S. I will make at least a partial payment as soon as I get my stimulus check.
Ed Barnett
Wichita Falls"

* Camille Paglia's intellectual honesty and her ability to separate each issue from that of the party she supports is a breath of fresh air. I cannot name one other liberal writer as honest or fair as Ms. Paglia. Honestly, I cannot think of a single conservative author as honest or fair either...
In her most recent article for Salon Ms. Paglia unloads on President Obama's weak staff, she also defends Rush Limbaugh! Astounding....
* The New York Times and Investors Business Daily both attack the President's decision to fund fetal stem cell research. Noting that recent study has shown that adult stem cells are the true avenue for scientific advancement.
* Imagine an occupied America...Ron Paul brings perspective.
* Top 20 earmarkers in the $400 billion omnibus bill.
* Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina is the first Governor to reject some of the stimulus money for his state.
* From Reason.com
"Kim Jong Il unanimously re-elected leader of North Korea. Celebrates by writing six novels, successfully hunting a unicorn, impregnating seven Swedish women."
* Liberal Mass Murder.
* Bet you can't guess which Republican Senators voted against school choice...?
Different day same names...Specter, Snowe, Murkowski, and add to the list Crapo (not kidding that's his name). If Specter and Snowe are going to vote with the Democrats on everything...why not just be Democrat?
* La Shawn Barber blogs today about Star Parker who notices that black poverty is overwhelmingly a result of single mother homes. Surprise, surprise...
* And lastly, Jack Cafferty continues to prove that he is an ass-clown.

WWRD?

* The Constitution Party has it's best showing ever...by almost 25%! In Missouri, the Constitution Party was able to dislodge the Libertarian Party as the strongest third party in the state!
* I will drive to Washington and march hand in hand with the Catholic Church if it means stopping the Freedom of Choice Act. This is one we HAVE to fight...even if it means getting a little dirty.
* WWRD? What would Reagan do?
* Perhaps President Reagan would have joined Mr. Nugent in a bit of RINO hunting?
* Get rid of this corrupt clown quick.
* Camille Paglia may be a member of the vast left-wing conspiracy but boy, can she write! Another great article about Ms. Paglia's affinity for Governor Sarah Palin. It worries me when I agree more with a left wing feminist than I do with the once reasonable Peggy Noonan.
* The venerable Pat Buchanan argues for a return to Hamiltonian economic principles.
* Some positivity on our nation's immediate future.
* Has America lurched left? I think so, but we have been moving this way for the last 30-40 years.
* Howard Stern had it right when he switched party affiliation from Democrat to Republican...the Left is the party of censorship. We conservatives may hate the vitriol people like Howard Stern spew...but we will always allow them the opportunity to spew it.
* The MSM has dropped the ball on an obvious "hate crime". Now, I personally think hate crimes are an abomination to freedom of speech and thought...but I digress.
* Don't be fooled most Americans like socialism.
* Some perspective on a rough election year? How about "the fuller's soap"...
From Henry Payne

Charlie Rangel is Dirty!

* Charlie Rangel is the dirtiest politician this side of Rod Blagojevich. Michelle Malkin chimes in on the Democrats "culture of corruption".
Gary Varvel
* It seems as though the Blagojevich scandal will hit other Democrat lawmakers too...the first? Jesse Jackson Jr. is apparently connected to some of the Governor's dirty dealings. Oh, and there is proof that Obama and Blagojevich did meet to discuss potential replacements for the President-elect...and they were closer than Mr. Obama would like to admit. President-elect Obama does not seem to be tainted by the Blagojevich corruption...but most of his people are.
* A while back Newsweek writer Lisa Miller wrote that a good defense of gay marriage can be offered by using Scripture (I am not kidding), well she was to appear on the Laura Ingraham show today to discuss the article...but backed out. Instead Laura spoke to Albert Mohler who offered up his rebuttal to the Miller article. His article was entitled "Turning the Bible on its Head" and is a very good read.
* My favorite liberal (Camille Paglia) lays out some support for Sarah Palin, and takes a surprisingly open minded view towards gay marriage and religion in America.
* Killing the 6th Amendment, New Hampshire's answer for tough economic times. The boys at Reason lay out exactly why this is one of the worst ideas EVER.
* Just like today's Democrats, Hitler was a big fan of public works projects too. The old New Deal was a disaster, and this new New Deal will be too.
* The problem with "free" healthcare.
* Scientists revolt over the global warming farce...though President-elect Obama is still a believer.
* Jews get killed but Muslims feel vulnerable...? Does this make any sense?
* Today's news of the "so ridiculous I could not have made it up"; Mexico will not stand having illegal immigrants in their country!
I want to thank Mexico for sponsoring my laugh of the day with this utterly ridiculous announcement.

Senators from NY stink.

* From Senator Chuck Schumer; 16 seconds of the most sickening display of bravado and scorn.

* Adam Smith is having the last laugh...though he is dead...so that's kind of creepy.
* Robert Higgs tells us that the best alternative to the bailout is to "do nothing".
* The Financial Times of London asks "Has Barack Obama's presidency already failed?" Yes.
* Again with the weird Obama as savior stuff...these people are freaks. By the way don't make fun of the President or you may get in trouble!
* Obama's rhetoric of fear.
* The Genius Milton Friedman on Greed.

* Holy Jack Cafferty, Batman! I believe this may very well be the first time I have ever heard or read anything that Jack Cafferty has said or written that I actually mostly agree with. I do think he takes the Obama "innocence" a little far, but I will not quibble today! Jack Cafferty has actually called out a Democrat! Will wonders never cease?
* Joe Biden gets on his hands and knees in Munich.
* An insightful article on the problem with America's prison system.
* My liberal moment brought to you by Camille Paglia. She is brilliant and though I may disagree with her on a lot of what her latest article is about...her section on the Fairness Doctrine should be posted in the halls of Congress.