Romney's New Groove

He Touts Expertise as Focus Shifts to Economy
By ELIZABETH HOLMES

The bad economic outlook might be good news for Mitt Romney, the millionaire venture capitalist who is in a tight race here for the Republican presidential nomination.

As voters' worries have shifted away from the war in Iraq and turned to the roiled markets, Mr. Romney, with his fixation on PowerPoint slides and fever lines, has come into his own on the stump just ahead of Tuesday's primary. Armed with a stimulus plan that favors big business, a reputation for hard-line cuts and even a sign that boasts "Economic Turnaround," Mr. Romney has shifted his campaign rhetoric back into his comfort zone.

Read more about Romney's New Groove @ WSJ.com

Stopping Iran

Why the case for military action still stands.
By NORMAN PODHORETZ

Up until a fairly short time ago, scarcely anyone dissented from the assessment offered with "high confidence" by the National Intelligence Estimate of 2005 that Iran was "determined to develop nuclear weapons." Correlatively, no one believed the protestations of the mullahs ruling Iran that their nuclear program was designed strictly for peaceful uses. The reason for this near-universal consensus was that...... Continue reading.

Quip of the week

“Psychology Today published a study Thursday of the likes and dislikes of schoolchildren in America, which revealed that most children hate clowns. It’s not just the children who hate clowns. Why do you think Congress has such low approval ratings?”

—Argus Hamilton

“The Clintons have a record of lawless and ruthless corruption that goes back not only to their White House days in the 1990s but even back to their time in the governors’ mansion in Arkansas... It may not be emotionally satisfying to vote for the lesser of two evils but a lot depends on how bad the worse evil is. Nobody running on the Republican ticket is as dangerous as the Clintons.”

—Thomas Sowell

“I consider all three of [the leading Democrat candidates] to be anti-military, tax-raising, left-wing flyweights who would bury this country in entitlements while essentially ignoring Islamic fascism.”

—Burt Prelutsky

“English experience indicates that when two political parties agree about something, it is generally wrong.” —G. K. Chesterton

“What is euphemistically called government-corporate ‘partnership’ is just government coercion, political favoritism, collectivist industrial policy, and old-fashioned federal boondoggles nicely wrapped up in a bright-colored ribbon. It doesn’t work.”

—Ronald Reagan

Never more true than it is today

“No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.”

—Judge Gideon Tucker

“Would it not be better to simplify the system of taxation rather than to spread it over such a variety of subjects and pass through so many new hands.”

—Thomas Jefferson

The Tax Threat to Prosperity

WSJ.com
By ARTHUR B. LAFFER

Over the past 30 years, the U.S. has seen large changes in income tax rates as well as other tax rates. And, as would be expected, the budgetary implications of these tax changes have once again become a hotly debated partisan issue. But missing from the discussion are the huge differences in how the top 1% of.....

Off the leash

Democratic politics is all about Bill—again
Economist.com

THE Democrats are in the midst of making an historic choice between nominating their first female presidential candidate or their first black presidential candidate. And who is everybody talking about? A certain 61-year-old white male with a habit of waffling on about the old days, falling asleep in public and turning puce when crossed. For most ex-presidents retirement is a golden time. They top up their personal.....

Thomas Sowell: Dangerous Demagoguery: Part II

Among the many lies we can expect to hear this election year, none will be bigger or more often repeated, in the media as well as by politicians, than the lie that there is a widening income gap between the rich and the poor.

How dare you make more money than your neighbor

Jacob Sullum: Hillary Clinton's Quest for Economic Justice

During this week's Democratic presidential debate, Hillary Clinton said that putting together the right kind of stimulus package is "a part of economic justice."

"The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position."

-- George Washington --

Senate might approve immunity for utilities aiding warrantless wiretapping

WASHINGTON - The Senate gave a strong boost yesterday to legal protections for telephone companies that helped the government conduct a warrantless wiretap program, dramatically increasing chances the legislation will survive a final vote next week.

Earmark Queen Clinton Funnels Tax Dollars to ‘Gay’ Lobby Group
A group that lobbies for needle exchanges, for allowing more immigrants with HIV/AIDS to legally enter the country, and for condom distribution in prisons received a $303,000 federal earmark pushed by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.). It's just one of the 261 earmarks Clinton personally helped usher through Congress, a government watchdog group says...

Russia accelerates nuclear fuel shipments to Iran

Russia accelerates nuclear fuel shipments to Iran TEHERAN — Russia has stepped up the pace of nuclear fuel shipments to Iran. Officials said Moscow plans to .....
(continue reading)

North Korea to sell minisubs to Iran

North Korea is preparing to sell minisubmarines to Iran, according to Japan's Sankei Shimbun. The minisubs wouldlikely be deployed in the strategic Straits of Hormuz through which much of the world's oil transits. The newspaper reported Jan. 18 that North Korea is ...
(click here for more)

Soros nation:

Hedge fund operator controlling Democratic politicians, media
By Cliff Kincaid

Our media have treated us to endless replays of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama attacking one another's corporate ties. Obama said Clinton had been a corporate lawyer on the board of Wal-Mart, while Clinton countered that Obama did favors for a slumlord who contributed to his political campaign. But there's more to this than charges and counter-charges and a desperate...
(click here for more)

FISA Fight Continues

By Jed Babbin, HUMAN EVENTS

How Bad Is It Out There, Really?

To quote Dickens:
"It (is) the best of times, it (is) the worst of times, it (is) the age of wisdom, it (is) the age of foolishness, it (is) the epoch of belief, it (is) the epoch of incredulity, it (is) the season of Light, it (is) the season of Darkness, it (is) the spring of hope, it (is) the winter of despair...."

.....it is the time of the coldest global warming period man has ever seen.... Damn it is cold out thar!

Tom DeLay: Minority to Majority

Once the source of the Republican Party's (and the conservative movement's) powerbase in Washington, the House is now the institution in which conservatives hold the least actual legislative power.

Larry Elder: Open-Minded Liberals?

Walter Cronkite, when asked whether he agreed that liberals dominated the major news media, told me, "Yes -- if by liberal you mean open-minded." Are liberals more "open-minded" than conservatives?

[HH- Let me answer that in one word: NO!]

Michelle Bernard: The Path to Democracy and Stability in Pakistan

Who are we fighting in this War on Terror? For many Americans, the War on Terror remains a confusing concept. We are used to wars against countries, not against a group of people brought together by an ideology.

Ken Blackwell: No Time Outs in the War on Terror

In his State of the Union address next week, it is imperative that President Bush push for the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.

Victor Davis Hanson: The Moral Economy

In this heated campaign season, housing prices are plummeting. Banks write off billions of dollars in unrecoverable debt. The stock market wildly fluctuates almost hourly. Candidates promise painless and near instant relief.

Patrick J. Buchanan: What McCain Means

If the presidential race is between Hillary and Amnesty John, the border security battle is over and lost. As Laura Ingraham asks, "If Congress passes McCain-Kennedy in 2009, would President McCain sign it?"

Charles Krauthammer: Raging Populist or Just Angry Hypocrite?

There's losing. There's losing honorably. And then there's John Edwards. He stays in the race because, with the Democrats' proportional representation system, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton might end up in a very close delegate race.

Lawrence Kudlow: Capitalism Doesn't Work, Mr. Gates?

Bill Gates, bloviating at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is issuing a clarion call for a "kinder capitalism" to aid the world's poor.

David Limbaugh: "Maverick" and "Conservative" Aren't Synonyms

Many conservatives have said Sen. John McCain is not conservative enough to suit them. Some of McCain's defenders have not only disagreed but have impugned his critics, hypocritically blaming them for divisiveness.

Paul Greenberg: Dr. Frankenstein Plods On

Scientists in this country and Japan had found a new way to produce what are in effect embryonic stem cells - but without having to destroy human embryos to do so.

"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time;
the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them."

-- Thomas Jefferson --

Evangelicals: Not a Block Vote After All

By David Aikman

It's become a cliché in the mainstream press that America's evangelical citizens vote in lock-step when it comes to national elections. But if one thing has become clear this election cycle, it is that there is no such thing as "the American evangelical voting block." American evangelicals are like the rest of Americans; they pick and choose among presidential candidates.

How else can you explain the following? Pat Robertson of the Christian Broadcasting Network has endorsed Mayor Rudi Guiliani, Bob Jones of Bob Jones University has endorsed Mitt Romney, many South Carolina voters switched to John McCain after rejecting him in 2000, and Governor Mike Huckabee certainly hasn't yet persuaded all American Christian conservatives to vote for him.

Frankly, this is good for America. To be an excellent president you need more than just good theology.

Louisiana's Jindal Starts With Accountability and Transparency

"Newly elected Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), one of the brightest and most creative people in public life, began his governorship with an executive order making state spending transparent and ordering it to be posted on the Internet so every citizen could see how their tax money is being spent.

For a Louisiana governor, this was an enormous step toward reform.

Transparency in government spending is a growing movement among the states and, like so much of the innovation on the state level in America, it's an idea the President would do well to make his own.

Publishing all non-classified federal spending on the Internet would put the power to unearth fraud and abuse in the hands of the American people.

It would be a step toward real accountability in government.

In other words, it would be real change, just what we need in Washington right now."

-- Newt Gingrich --

[HH: I like this idea. This kind of transparency could be very empowering to the citizenry on all levels; local, state, and federal, if everyone followed suit. Which is why it won't happen anywhere else. Facts are dangerous things ...especially to politicians.

Instead, Jindal will be treated as if he has leprosy. Who does he think he is? Is he trying to undermine the establishment?]

World Tribune — U.S. not happy over Turkey's plan to become nuclear center

U.S. not happy over Turkey's plan to become nuclear center ANKARA — Turkey has disclosed plans to become a nuclear production center. Ankara's plans were said to have dismayed the United States. Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler told an international.....

World Tribune — 35 U.S. smart bombs take out 30 Al Qaida targets

BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has intensified precision air strikes against Al Qaida targets in Iraq. The U.S.-led coalition has deployed ......

World Not Running Out of Oil, Say Experts
- Times Online

Unemployment Insurance Does Not Stimulate the Economy
- The Heritage Foundation

Tax Rebates Will Not Stimulate the Economy
- The Heritage Foundation

RECESSION REALITY

Econ 101: What does 'Recession' Mean?
Economics Professor Gary Wolfram explains: we don't even know we've been in one until we're out.

Thompson Campaign Ends
By Rich Galen

It is strange that the qualities we are looking for in a sitting president -- thoughtful, calm, and serious -- are exactly the qualities that we penalize in those running for president…

Barack Obama’s Big Mistake
By Ben Shapiro

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) may have finally blown his chance at the Democratic nomination during Monday night’s debate in South Carolina. For the first time, Obama got testy on national television -- and he didn’t look good doing it. Hillary Clinton had to stifle a smile: Obama had finally entered the mud-wrestling pit. And the mud-wrestling pit is Hillary’s territory…

HOW MUCH ARE WE HATED?

Rise of Chávez Sends Venezuelans to Florida - New York Times

WESTON, Fla. — In December 2002, Ariel Dunaevschi, then the owner of a furniture business in Caracas, Venezuela, was on vacation in New York with his family when opponents of President Hugo Chávez called a crippling labor strike hoping to bring the government to its knees.

As the protest wore on, paralyzing the country’s oil industry and devastating the economy, the Dunaevschis saw a very uncertain future for Venezuela and arrived at a painful decision: they would be better off staying in the United States.

Hello illegal immigrants.

One must admit that it is interesting how 'the world hates America' ... but yet ... do not return home after coming here.

Another thing: The left, including America's left, love "Oogo" Chavez. He is such a wonderful guy. So why would you not want to return to Venezuela and to the leadership of 'Mr. Wonderful'?

6 Powers Agree on Draft Iran Sanctions

BERLIN (AP) - The U.N. Security Council's permanent members and Germany agreed Tuesday on a new draft resolution on sanctions against Iran, strengthening existing measures over the country's refusal to suspend its nuclear program, officials said.

Russian bombers to test-fire missiles in Bay of Biscay

Times Online:

Russia has sent two long-range bombers to the Bay of Biscay, off the French and Spanish Atlantic coasts, to test-fire missiles in what Moscow billed as its biggest naval exercise in the area since the Soviet era.

British intel sees Putin as 'major threat'

UK's relations with Russia chill amid tit-for-tat diplomatic war.

Gas price falls to one-month low - USATODAY.com

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Gasoline prices sank to a one-month low, after falling 5.1 cents over the last week to $3.02 a gallon amid worries about a weak economy, the government said Tuesday.

Thomas Sowell: Dangerous Demagoguery

Most of the horrors of the 20th century -- of which there were many -- would not have been possible without demagoguery or misleading propaganda.

Dennis Prager: The Case for Rudy Giuliani

To the extent that I understand how most Republicans think, it would seem that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani comes closer to the Republican ideal than any of the other viable Republican candidates.

US warns EU on using climate change as pretext for protectionism

The Boston Globe

US warns EU on using climate change as pretext: Official says it has been an excuse for protectionism.

BRUSSELS - The United States warned the European Union yesterday against using climate change as a pretext for protectionism, setting the stage for trans-Atlantic tension over a new package of EU measures to combat global warming.

Washington Times:
Poll: Americans Support Voter ID Rules

DROPOUTS

Now that Fred Thompson has called it quits, my three top "personal" choices have dropped out of the presidential race. I knew from the beginning that two of my choices were real long shots, but hoped Fred would get it going. He never did. His withdrawal from the race therefore is not surprising; but disheartening nonetheless.

Reuters:
New trial for six accused of Sears Tower plot

Reuters:
Padilla Sentenced to 17 Years

The Unraveling of Russia’s Europe Policy

Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report

By Peter Zeihan

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his anointed successor, Dmitri Medvedev, were in Bulgaria on Jan. 17. The point of the trip was to put the crowning touch on a Russian effort to hook Europe into Moscow’s energy orbit. After a touch of bitter rhetoric about how Russia and Bulgaria were “doomed to be partners,” Putin agreed to grant equal rights to the South Stream natural gas pipeline Moscow hopes to lay through Bulgaria. Yet the tension of the meeting and the concessions that Putin had to make simply to get permission are symptomatic of a broad unraveling of Russian foreign policy toward Europe.

Full article.

Musharraf vows free elections, but asks for patience

Yahoo! News

BRUSSELS (AFP) - President Pervez Musharraf pledged on Monday that Pakistan's elections next month will be free and fair, and urged Europe to back, not criticise his regime as it stood in the forefront of the fight against terrorism......

U.S. plans to extend role of Iraq's successful Concerned Citizens Groups
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military hopes to expand the authority of Iraq's new auxiliary police force.

Clinton's defense secretary: Gulf states fear U.S. withdrawal

World Tribune:

HERZLIYA, Israel — The member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council have conveyed concerns over a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. Former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said the six GCC states feared Washington would withdraw prematurely from Iraq.

"They are fearful that the United States will leave Iraq prematurely," Cohen said. "They are fearful that Iran will spread its radical ideology throughout their countries."

Read more.

Hey, Bill ......

This is NOT cool.

DEM DEBATE

Hillary and Barack duke it out. Oh, and John Edwards was there too.

Pre-emptive nuclear strike a key option, Nato told

Guardian Unlimited:

The west must be ready to resort to a pre-emptive nuclear attack to try to halt the "imminent" spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, according to a radical manifesto for a new Nato by five of the west's most senior military officers and strategists......

WE ARE DOOMED

As if global warming isn't bad enough:

We truly are going to hell in a hand basket. Problem is - we are running out of hand baskets.
But that is not the only thing we are running out of. We are running out of dirt. I kid you not.

MORE EVIDENCE....

More evidence of global warming.

HUCKABEE

The Huck is out of money.

Michigan Denies Illegal Immigrants Licenses

My Way News:

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan will no longer let illegal immigrants get driver's licenses, a practice just seven other states continue to allow.......

Iran hails new delivery of nuclear fuel from Russia

Russia delivered a fifth consignment of fuel for Iran's first nuclear power plant in the Gulf port of Bushehr on Tuesday, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.......

Russian bombers to test-fire missiles in Bay of Biscay

Times Online:

Russia has sent two long-range bombers to the Bay of Biscay, off the French and Spanish Atlantic coasts, to test-fire missiles in what Moscow billed as its biggest naval exercise in the area since the Soviet era........

Toppling the Times: Rupert Takes On Pinch
American Thinker
By Ed Lasky

The American mediascape is about to experience an earthquake, Rupert Murdoch is preparing to topple the New York Times from its position as the pre-eminent general interest daily newspaper, generating severe financial pressure on a struggling media company reeling from mismanagement. More

“A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency or simply to swell its numbers.”

—Ronald Reagan

Tyranny Update
By Walter E. Williams

Last December, President Bush signed an energy bill that will ban the sale of Edison's incandescent bulb, starting with the 100-watt bulb in 2012 and ending with the 40-watt bulb by 2014. You say, "“Hey, Williams, what's wrong with saving energy, reducing our carbon footprint and stopping global warming?"” Before you get too enthused over governmental energy-saving efforts, you might ponder what's down the road...

Poll: Public Distrust Media’s Iraq Coverage
(CNSNews.com) – Nearly half of Americans think the situation in Iraq is better than the national media are reporting, according to a recent poll, while significant majorities think the news media are damaging troop morale and prospects for victory...

Big Oil

Dirty, "Big Oil" is far worse than we thought, with its' tentacles reaching everywhere, wreaking havoc in so many ways we never even thought possible. But it's true. Its' damage may be incalculable.

LA Times editor out in budget cut clash

Financial Times-

James O'Shea was forced out as editor of the Los Angeles Times after a budget dispute with the paper’s publisher, David Hiller, the paper reported on its website on Sunday.

Mr O’Shea’s tenure lasted just 14 months before he became the third consecutive Times editor to leave the paper in a flap over budget cuts.

Read the rest at FT.com.

Serbia chooses path to EU or Russia in February 3 vote

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia is heading for a showdown next month between a nationalist who leans towards Russia and a liberal favoring the West following the first round of a presidential election.

Nationalist Tomislav Nikolic took 39.6 percent of the vote on Sunday in a field of nine candidates, ahead of 35.5 percent for pro-Western President Boris Tadic.

Analysts said.......