statism

Why Isn’t The Murder Of An American Boy An Impeachable Offense?

"In 1998, President Bill Clinton was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice for matters arising out of the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. If perjury and obstruction of justice constitute high crimes or misdemeanors, then doesn’t it seem rather obvious that the murder of an American citizen by the president would also constitute a high crime or misdemeanor, especially if the citizen is a child? Proponents of the war on terrorism argue that the killing of the teenager wasn’t really a murder but rather an assassination. But how is Obama’s killing of Abdulrahman any different from Pinochet’s murder of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt?" Continue reading →

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F-35 Stealth Fighter Is Too Heavy and Slow, So the Pentagon Made Its Performance Tests Easier

"The Pentagon's pursuit of the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jet has been a heartbreaking one. If you're a taxpayer, the program's estimated $1 trillion price tag probably breaks your heart a little bit. If you're an aviation enthusiast, the constant whittling away of the do-it-all aircraft's features, which in many cases actually amounts to adding weight and taking away maneuverability, must hurt a little bit too. If you're just an everyday American, though, you should be downright shattered that after a decade and a fortune spent, the F-35 will actually be more vulnerable than the aircraft it's replacing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingF-35 Stealth Fighter Is Too Heavy and Slow, So the Pentagon Made Its Performance Tests Easier

Drones, Assassinations, and the Drug War

"The Chinese military recently planned to assassinate by drone a suspected drug lord hiding out in Myanmar who was accused of having murdered 13 Chinese soldiers. While Chinese authorities ultimately decided not to carry out the assassination and ended up capturing the guy and having a court sentence him to death, the episode clearly points in the direction that both the Chinese communist regime and the U.S. government are taking their respective countries. After all, China could justify the assassination of the suspected drug lord in the same way that the U.S. government justifies the assassination of suspected terrorists." Continue reading →

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Doors swing open for advocates of marijuana legalization on Capitol Hill

"Advocates for the legalization of marijuana plan to step up their political giving and lobbying efforts now that members of Congress are taking an interest in changing federal drug laws. The lobbyists say lawmakers who wouldn’t give them the time of day are suddenly interested in meeting with them and introducing legislation following the approval of ballot initiatives in Colorado and Washington that legalized recreational use of the drug. Lobbyists say the battle that is brewing over drug laws will be far-reaching and not confined to recreational use of marijuana." Continue reading →

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West Virginia Bill Would Drug Test Teens for Driver Licenses

"A bill introduced Tuesday in the West Virginia House of Delegates would require prospective teen drivers to pass three separate drug tests before receiving a full drivers' license. It's only the latest drug testing proposal to emerge at the statehouse in Charleston this year. Introduced by Del. Joe Ellington (R-Mercer), House Bill 2528 would require teens to 'pass a drug test designed to detect illegal consumption of controlled substances' before getting a learner's permit, before getting an intermediate license, and before getting a full license." Continue reading →

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AZ Court Says You Don’t Have to Be High to Get a DUI

"An Arizona appeals court has ruled that marijuana users don't need to be actually impaired to be successfully prosecuted for driving under the influence. The ruling came Tuesday in the case of a man who tested positive for an inactive marijuana metabolite that remains in the body for weeks after the high from smoking marijuana has worn off. The ruling in Arizona v. Shilgevorkyan overturned a decision by a superior court judge who said that it didn't make sense to prosecute people for driving under the influence if they're not actually under the influence." Continue reading →

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Surprise, Surprise, Obamacare Includes a Massive Sales Tax on Your Healthcare Insurance

"As Carlyle Group founder and war profiteer David Rubinstein once told me about some legislation, 'The devil is in the details.' Maybe this is what Nancy Pelosi meant, when she said that Obamacare needs to be passed so that we can find out what is in it." Continue reading →

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The New York Times Calls (again) for Higher Taxes on Middle-Class Americans

"The New York Times seems really fixated on screwing Joe Lunchbucket. What’s particularly interesting about this editorial is that the New York Times is very explicit about political strategy. They support more class-warfare taxes in order to set the stage for higher taxes on the middle class. We can’t say we haven’t been warned." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe New York Times Calls (again) for Higher Taxes on Middle-Class Americans

Bernanke’s Plan…If He Identifies Bubbles

"So what's Bernanke's plan, should one of these bubbles occur? Throw some bureaucrats at it first! Surely he means some new goofy laws, but can Bernanke also mean price controls? He has said that: 'The achievement of price stability must not and will not be jeopardized…I am also confident that, when the time comes, the Fed will act to ensure that inflation remains firmly under control.' The next step that governments usually take to give the illusion that 'inflation remains firmly under control' is to enact price controls. Will TSA agents be sent into out of the airports and into the streets to make sure that the price of tomatoes aren't 'too high'?" Continue reading →

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Detlev Schlichter: Bubble trouble: Is there an end to endless quantitative easing?

"Any pretence of the ‘independence’ of central bankers has been unceremoniously dumped in Japan. Ministers take part in central bank meetings and give joint statements with central bank governors afterwards. New Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made it very clear what he wants the central bank to do (print more money faster, devalue the Yen, create inflation) and to that end he is looking for a new central bank governor. Of course, only accredited ‘doves’ need apply. A few days ago, Mr. Abe also spelled out what skill-set he is really looking for: good marketing skills. Salesmanship." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDetlev Schlichter: Bubble trouble: Is there an end to endless quantitative easing?