bush

Will Oprah be Fined?

This entry was posted in bush Constitution Election 2004 FCC Federal Government Libertarianism Regulation on by

Kevin Aylward reports on an FCC investigation that may result in large fines for Oprah:

Using the recent FCC fines against Clear Channel Communications for airing indecent material on a Howard Stern radio broadcast, the 1900 complaints against a single episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show should lead to $5.9 million dollar fine.

If they actually do this I hope it happens well before the election. I have visions of huge anti-talibanbush rallies populated by hordes of Oprah and Howard fans.

The Lakers and the Candidates

This entry was posted in bush Democrats Election 2004 kerry Republicans on by

Professor Bainbridge doesn’t like the Lakers:

The Lakers personify our People/ET celebrity culture in which superficiality reigns supreme. They aren’t a team – they’re the sports world equivalent of VH1 Divas – four prima donnas plus entourages.

Which leads the Libertarian Jackass to wonder whether the Professor’s future action will be consistent with his words:

I hope the good professor votes against Bush and Kerry for similar reasons.

But I don’t think that the Professor puts bushco in this category:

As far as the elites are concerned, Middle America and the Republican Party are synonmous.
….
Here we see the modern Democratic party – secular elites at the top using the levers of government to effect wealth transfers from Middle America to reliable Democrat constituencies and special interests.

Now I do not disagree with his evaluation of what a Democratic government will do. The wealth transfer, using the power of government, is the whole game.
A simple variation of Bainbridge’s last sentence describes the current state of affairs: Here we see the modern Republican party – religious elites at the top using the levers of government to effect wealth transfers from Middle America to reliable Republican constituencies and special interests.

Update: Kevin Drum and Steve Verdon have related posts.

Freedom’s Just Another Word

This entry was posted in bush Constitution Domestic Terrorism Libertarianism US Foreign Policy World Affairs on by

In his remarks at the Republican National Committee Presidential Gala on October 8, 2003 bush says:

But the war on terror is more than just chasing down the killers or holding tyrants to account. The war on terror — our security comes in the war on terror from the spread of human liberty. (Applause.) See, free nations do not develop weapons of mass destruction. (Emphasis added) Free nations do not intimidate their neighbors. Free nations are peaceful nations.

bush claims to mean what he says so just how does he explain this:

Yet the Department of Energy is spending an astonishing $6.5 billion on nuclear weapons this year, and President Bush is requesting $6.8 billion more for next year and a total of $30 billion over the following four years. This does not include his much-cherished missile-defense program, by the way. This is simply for the maintenance, modernization, development, and production of nuclear bombs and warheads.

I still looking for definitions of “free” and “weapons of mass destruction” that eliminate the dissonance.
bush quote found via Dubya Speak and the Slate article is via Niall Kennedy.