An Intriguing Script. Houston Chronicle Council of Dimwits. HoustonChronicle.com ($$$) - "Intriguing" is not the word I would use to describe the potential collapse and ruin (for a time) of one of the two major political parties in America. You only need to look at Texas to see the dangers of one-party rule. However, if you're editorial board is made up primarily of relatively well-off, Caucasian Democrats then you might find this "intriguing".
HUD Secretary Castro's Progressive Credentials Questioned. Bill Lambrecht, HoustonChronicle.com ($$$) - While it's true that the Castro's non-political resumes are thinner than watered-down gruel this line of criticism only illustrates just how far off the boil Sanders supporters really are. Mortgages are financial instruments primarily of banks and credit unions. If you don't understand that there's no reason to really continue speaking to you.
Houston likely to chip in $5MM to repair dilapidated apartment complex. Rebecca Elliott, HoustonChronicle.com ($$$) - Remember expenditures such as these (and they are legion) that are basically corporate welfare for developers the next time what passes for leadership in Houston (Or the Council of Dimwits at the Houston Chronicle) cry crocodile tears that the "only way" to close Houston's fiscal gap is to bust the pillow soft revenue cap and raise your property taxes.
Puerto Rico's prosperous D.C. power couple. Erik Lipton & Michael Corkery. New York Times ($$$) - In other countries, when this happens, America likes to deride it as "corruption". In America, it's called capitalism. (We're wrong when we are speaking about ourselves FWIW) And lest you think you can point a partisan finger because the subjects are Democrats I can assure you that both parties are equally guilty of this. The only way to get rich in America today is by gaming the political system it seems. Which is a large reason why so many are angry.
A Clear Trend. Houston Chronicle Council of Dimwits. HoustonChronicle.com ($$$) - File this one under "even a stopped clock". I've long been pro-death penalty, but have freely admitted that, were I on a jury, I'd be the one guy in "12 Angry Men" that did everything I could to not apply it. That said, with all of the concerns surrounding the criminal justice system these days (from evidence gathering issues, to crime labs to prosecutorial misconduct, and more) I don't see any way that Texas can say, hand on heart, that there's no chance they are always going to get it 100% right. Yes, this is a "waffling" from me. Now ask me if I give a shit. It's time to end the death penalty once and for all.
Nothing about the 1994 Crime Bill was unintentional. Bruce Shapiro, TheNation.com - It's fun to watch progressive Democrats live out the Groundhog Day where they remember all over again why they don't like Hillary Clinton. That the GOP appears to be on the brink of losing an election to this woman shows just how bad they need to be dismantled and rebuilt.
The GOP vs. The Pursuit of Knowledge: Inside the Republican Crusade Against Science. Salon.com - It's amazing to me how unthinking the so-called "party of science" has become, and how ineffective the GOP is in differentiating between true "science" and "NewScience" which is what the progressive left has adopted. I like actual science very much. I'm not a fan of computer models programmed to reveal a desired result and other nonsense that falls under the guise of "NewScience" for the means of forwarding a political goal.
Driving and Thriving. Kevin D. Williamson. National Review Online. - While I'm a fan of Elon Musk (and Tesla) I pick nits with this article in that the Tesla is certainly the most technologically advanced car in the world, but it is not the best, not by a long shot. Mercedes is still making better overall cars, BMW's are better to drive and Ferrari are what God would drive. All that said if you gave me my choice I'd have the Lamborghini. For no other reason than there's a certain appeal about a car that can do 200 MPH and is likely to try and murder you for no reason on random turns.
Donald Trump and the Return of Right-Wing Statism. Jonah Goldberg, National Review Online. - A large part of the problem is that many who call themselves "conservative" aren't really, they are Statists who think that the world would be a better place if only they, or people like them, were in charge. In this sense they are not all that different from Progressive Democrats. In Texas, especially, most State-wide Republican office holders suffer from this. (I'm looking at you Dan Patrick)
UnitedHealth makes good on threat to pull out of ObamaCare. Eric Pianin, Yahoo! finance - While Republicans will crow that this somehow proves the Affordable Care Act was an unmitigated disaster their doing so only proves that they never have understood the primary reason the bill came into being. The object is not to "provide health care for all" but to make the private system seem so unworkable that single-payor (i.e. Medicare for all, i.e. socialized medicine) is the only answer. In this the bill has been very successful. So far.
A drought of ideas. Walter Russell Mead, The American Interest. - Here is the most notable quote from a very good article that is a must read.
"To understand both the voter frustration and the political polarization of the country, it’s necessary to see how neither party is offering real solutions for these problems. The Democrats just keep looking for new funds to pour into the sinkhole; Republicans hope to starve the beast to force a crisis."
The Max Tax. Kevin D. Williamson, National Review Online - He's more libertarian than Republican, but Mr. Williamson is writing some of the best stuff right now from a conservative perspective. This is the best argument against a progressive taxation system that you're likely to find anywhere.
Prosecuting Climate Change. David A. French. National Review Online. - The climate change fiasco is why whatever follows the GOP needs to focus on a return to the rule of law. Politically motivated prosecutions, designed for draining money, not saving Gaia, are going to run the country into ruin if not opposed vigorously. Not that it's an easy argument, most people don't understand why lawsuits of this type are even wrong much less damaging, but it's an argument that has to be made. Loudly, and quite often.
And finally.
The Death Star is a Stupid Idea, Please Stop Making Movies About it. David Harsanyi, The Federalist. - If you want to know why a lot of people don't like Republicans I offer up this as exhibit A. There are a ton more like them: "Why the Empire were the good guys" and other nonsense that doesn't do anything to forward the public discourse, but only confirms in your mind that you wouldn't want to share a beer with the author.
It's a movie. A fiction. Science Fiction at that. The normal laws of physics and economies need not apply.
Quit being such a damn grouch.
