Perhaps, but one cannot be certain of ‘what might have been.’ Obama and Palin needed the six years or so of semi-obscurity they were about to embark on before ambition — and John McCain — intervened. Instead, their growth was checked at a critical moment, and, as it seems now, won’t be resumed quickly —…
Politics
Politics
Milwaukee County’s woes make possible exec candidates hesitant – JSOnline
by JOHN ADAMS •
The county’s a mess, but Wisconsin’s governor-elect bears some of the responsibility for that sorry condition. Fence-sitters contemplating a run for Milwaukee County executive are daunted by the county’s financial troubles and growing calls for dissolving county government, according to [County Treasurer] Daniel Diliberti – one of the fence-sitters…. County Executive and Governor-elect Scott Walker…
Politics
Politics Daily: Newt Gingrich Deletes Tweet Touting His Pearl Harbor Books
by JOHN ADAMS •
Why does anyone take him seriously? Newt Gingrich has apparently thought better of using this Pearl Harbor Day to sell books. Mediaite reported the former speaker of the House has deleted a tweet that reminded his Twitter followers about the two World War II novels he has co-written: “The 69th anniversary of the japanese attack…
Government Spending, Politics
The Economic Incompetence of the Political Class — Forbes.com
by JOHN ADAMS •
Charles W. Kadlec, founder of the Community of Liberty: In the U.S. at least, the looming debt crisis among states and municipalities also reflects a lack of diligence on the part of the citizenry. This can be attributed in part to a naïve assumption by the electorate that those in government, freed from the profit…
Politics, Science/Nature
Wisconsin State Journal: EPA Investigates 15 State Power Plants for Possible Clean Air Violations
by JOHN ADAMS •
In a story published today, entitled, EPA investigates 15 state power plants for possible clean-air violations, Wisconsin State Journal reporter Ron Seely writes that The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating 15 state-owned power plants, including several on University of Wisconsin System campuses, to determine if they are in violation of the federal Clean Air Act.…
Politics
Jennifer Rubin Moves to the Washington Post
by JOHN ADAMS •
Jennifer Rubin, the veteran blogger formerly writing at Commentary‘s Contentions blog, has moved to the Washington Post, where she’s blogging at Right Turn. I read from among the left, right, and libertarian, and I’m glad that I do — the conservative Jennifer Rubin is a compelling polemicist. She’s far more — educated, sharp, principled, interesting,…
Libertarians, Politics
Jeffrey A. Miron: Anti-Libertarian Presidents
by JOHN ADAMS •
Big government began its comeback during the last administration. The lesson for libertarians is that liberals and conservatives are equally bad, just on different issues. Voters who want more libertarian government — and many do — should vote for gridlock. Or for a real libertarian, if they can find one. Via Jeffrey A. Miron: Anti-Libertarian…
Politics, Wisconsin
Capital Times: Scott Fitzgerald, Senate’s new top dog, says GOP rule will shake things up
by JOHN ADAMS •
In the liberal Capital TImes, there’s an interview with the Scott Fitzgerald, who will be the Wisconsin Senate’s new majority leader. (His brother Jeff will be Assembly Speaker.) I’m not sure what to make of it — there’s certainly not a lot of humility on display: SF: Well first, I think we are the right…
Freedom of Speech, Laws/Regulations, Politics
U.S. Supreme Court Considers Whether to Hear IJ’s Challenge to Arizona’s “Clean Elections” Scheme
by JOHN ADAMS •
Think that ‘clean’ elections laws keep elections, well, fair and clean? You might be surprised. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering an Institute for Justice challenge to the fairness of Arizona’s supposedly clean election laws. Here’s a video from the IJ entitled, “The Dirty Game of AZ’s “Clean Elections.” Below the video, I have placed…
Government Spending, Politics, Taxes/Taxation
Rep. Paul Ryan on Tax Increases
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin’s first congressional district, on federal taxation, as his remarks appeared on Monday, November 15th in USA Today. Ryan is set to become chairman of the House Budget Committee in the new Congress Stop the Tax Hikes By Paul Ryan Congress should act now to prevent across-the-board tax increases from…
City, Libertarians, Politics
The Return of the Status Quo, Twice as Loud as Last Time
by JOHN ADAMS •
There are two trends I think well possible for my part of the world, one of which matters, the other not at all. The first, the one that matters, is that Whitewater, Wisconsin is heading toward conditions in which she has a permanent underclass. That’s tragic, for everyone in the city, and a large topic…
Politics
Capital Times: Disrespect for League Harms Democracy
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at the Capital Times, there’s an editorial entitled, “Disrespect for League Harms Democracy.” The Cap Times contends that major parties have come to ignore the League of Women Voters’ non-partisan voters’ guides and debates. (Hat tip to The Phantom Stranger for the link.) The paper contends that ignoring the League harms our statewide politics.…
Politics
FTC’s first Chief Technologist: DRM basher Ed Felten
by JOHN ADAMS •
Congratulations to Princeton computer science professor Ed Felten — What do you get when you spend your academic career exposing broken DRM schemes, suing the recording industry when they try to silence you, showing the insecurity of e-voting machines, filing DMCA exemption requests, and freeing US court documents from behind their paywall? You get to…
Libertarians, Politics
Libertarian Party Nominees for U.S. House Again Receive Over 1,000,000 Votes
by JOHN ADAMS •
….the Libertarian Party nominees for U.S. House have polled, together, more than 1,000,000 votes. Other years in which the party has broken the 1,000,000 mark have been 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2008. Via Ballot Access News » Blog Archive » Libertarian Party Nominees for U.S. House Again Receive Over 1,000,000 Votes.