AmSpecBlog

'Proto-Fascist Love of Violence'

Robert Stacy McCain — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:13:00 -0500

Yes, that's me -- goose-stepping to fame and fortune, according to Andrew Sullivan: Charles Johnson explains his concerns here. He's particularly right about the kind of ...

How Dumb Is GQ?

Hunter Baker — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:39:00 -0500

I just got my January 2010 issue of Gentlemen's Quarterly, a magazine I do not pay for, but for some reason receive. There is a big, splashy article on the tea party movement. About...

BREAKING: Dorgan Not to Seek Reelection

Philip Klein — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:10:00 -0500

In a huge blow to Democrats, incumbent North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan has announced he will not seek reelection. His statement (via the Hill): “Although I still have a passion for...

Yes, Health Care Legislation Will Affect 16% of GDP (At Least)

Philip Klein — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:53:00 -0500

Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein writes: [T]his idea that the health-care bill affects "16% of GDP" is inane. That 16% of GDP captures people in private insurance, Medicaid,...

Tim Robbins' Soft Spot

Nicole Russell — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:28:00 -0500

It may no longer be in the way of continuing his 23-year committment to girlfriend Susan Sarandon, but the liberal star has, strangely, given some dough to Republicans. And to Minnesota's...

A New Frontier in Marriage Redefinition

David N. Bass — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:15:00 -0500

Same-sex marriage is so last decade. Polyamory, or "responsible non-monogamy," is the wave of the future. At least, that's the gist of a Boston Globe article that explores the confusing...

Mugabe's Hitlerian Facial Hair

Matthew Vadum — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:47:00 -0500

MATTHEW VADUM: Why has no one pointed out that Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe has a Hitler moustache? JEREMY LOTT: Because they were waiting for you to do it.

Esquire Writer Joins ACORN Useful Idiot Club

Matthew Vadum — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:56:00 -0500

Esquire writer John H. Richardson is a smart man and a good writer but he clearly doesn't know much about the organized crime syndicate ACORN. His interview with Bertha Lewis, chief...

Crist Ally Out As Head of Florida GOP

W. James Antle, III — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:55:00 -0500

Florida Republican Party chairman Jim Greer -- a moderate and ally of Gov. Charlie Crist -- has resigned. His departure is widely seen as a setback for Crist's Senate campaign. Crist faces the...

The Blind Side

Philip Klein — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:40:00 -0500

I finally got around to seeing The Blind Side last night, and I came away pleasantly surprised by the film, which offered the most favorable Hollywood portrayal of a rich white southern...

A Competitive Senate Race in Massachusetts?

W. James Antle, III — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:52:00 -0500

The latest Rasmussen poll shows Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (D) leading state Sen. Scott Brown (R) by just nine points in the race to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy....

Airport Security Handcuffs Military Blogger Michael Yon

Philip Klein — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:52:00 -0500

In the latest example of airline security insanity, military blogger Michael Yon reports that he was handcuffed at Seattle-Tacoma Airport for declining to say how much money he earned. Michelle...

As Transparent as a Block of Lead

Philip Klein — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:25:00 -0500

Earlier this morning, David Plouffe sent out an email to supporters of Organizing for America, Obama's campaign arm that is now part of the DNC, previewing 2010. Here's an excerpt from the...

The New Scientific Consensus

Paul Chesser — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:08:00 -0500

The latest pronouncement from scientific authority arrived over the weekend, via a report in the Times of London: Dolphins have been declared the world’s second most intelligent...

The Real ClimateGate: Who's Stupid? Hu's Not

Chris Horner — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:51:00 -0500

So, China went big into windmill and solar panel production, causing the media and other liberals to breathlessly swoon over this further evidence of the wisdom of us mandating the things even...

How a Dean Primary Challenge Could Help Obama

Philip Klein — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:39:00 -0500

Jay Cost explores the idea that Howard Dean may challenge President Obama from the left in the 2012 Democratic primaries. I agree with him that it's very doubtful, but I have a slightly...

Airport Security?

Asher Embry — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:32:00 -0500

Airport Security? By Asher Embry Reluctantly we let Napolitano check our shoes. By now it's clear this exercise is mostly just a ruse. We tell you now we'll draw the line...

Daily Must-Reads

Brian O'Connell — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500

Crime has fallen during the recession, presenting evidence contrary to the theory that poverty is the root cause of crime (Wall Street Journal Editorial) TimesOnline: At least...

More Attacks on Jobs in Michigan

Paul Chesser — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:40:00 -0500

If anybody got the idea that Climategate and the Copenhagen failure, and the growing disbelief among the public that global warming catastrophe is around the corner, would...

Slow Growth for Next Decade?

Robert P. Kirchhoefer — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:28:00 -0500

If you asked the Administration, they'd say our economy is a little weak but we'll be better in no time -- thanks to all of the spending we've been doing. Don't believe me? Just see for ...

Books: The Conservative Arsenal

Hunter Baker — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:30:00 -0500

As we begin the New Year, I find myself thinking about books that fill the conservative armamentarium for resisting the left-liberal onslaught on the past handful of years. I've omitted...

Would Health Care Bills Increase Tax Non-Compliance?

Philip Klein — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 -0500

Kaiser Health News looks at the expanded role that the Internal Revenue Service will have if Democrats' pass their health care legislation. Most notably, both the House and Senate bills would...

Regime Uncertainty: A Certainty

Joseph Lawler — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:38:00 -0500

U. Chicago economists Gary Becker, Steven Davis, and Kevin Murphy strike a Higgsian note in an op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal: We believe two factors are behind this rather...

Daily Must-Reads

Brian O'Connell — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:30:00 -0500

Berkeley never disappoints. The High School Governance Council is considering cutting lab science classes because such classes are "for white students" (East Bay Express) Recession...

TNR: Dems to Skip Conference to Merge Health Care Bills

Philip Klein — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:43:00 -0500

Jonathan Cohn reports that Democrats are "almost certain" to skip a formal conference committee to merge the House and Senate health care bills and informally negotiate which each other, a...

Whooda thunkit: Enron-created scheme inherently invites fraud

Chris Horner — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:39:00 -0500

So, the Telegraph reports that "the very nature of carbon credits makes them 'an incredibly lucrative target for criminals', Rafael Rondelez, who was involved with the Europol...

A Terrorist Walks Free

Yogi Love — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:47:00 -0500

Story here.

China Expands Ties to ASEAN and Islamic States

Doug Bandow — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:35:00 -0500

The Obama administration and its Democratic allies in Congress are no friends of free trade. Their myopia is effectively reducing America's economic ties with other nations...

Two Articles, Same Day

Paul Chesser — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:43:00 -0500

From the Burlington (Vermont) Free Press today, an article about how scientific consensus on the threat of global warming still exists, despite the revelation of the Climategate emails...

Majority Favors Abortion Ban in Health Care Bill

Doug Bandow — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:31:00 -0500

According to Rasmussen Reports: Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters favor a ban on abortion coverage in any health insurance plan that receives federal subsidies. A new Rasmussen...