Volume 2 Issue 131
September 8, 2003
Prohibition Continues
Arcane Liquor Laws across America, the New Economy strikes again, and John Edwards gets ready to join the unemployment lines
President Bush gave another "deer into headlights" speech yesterday, saying pretty much nothing we didn't know already...we're going to stay in Iraq (big surprise), we need more money (shocker!), and we now have to go begging at the UN for foreign help (*sigh*...weren't all these nations lined up to help us after 9/11?). Of course he didn't mention the economy at all, nor how Iraq was not an active Al Queda hotbed until we invaded it. I'm sure the fact that the nation has lost jobs during his administration than any other since Herbert Hoover is not important. Nor the fact that for some reason in this war we need to cut taxes and revenue, when in every other war in the history of the nation, we've raised them. Of course, what was more despicable was the crappy coverage afforded to the speech by the networks (NBC excepted, who did a good job and stayed on until 9). But, hopefully the Administration's foreign policy will now be more balanced, and actually help clean up Afghanistan and Iraq, who's problems are now ours.
Interesting article today in the Philadelphia Inquirer about one of the more oppressive liquor cartels in America, run by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which not only controls the sale of liquor in the state (and beer and wine), but also prohibits people from brining in booze from other states. So if you're brining a bottle of wine to your friends in PA, be careful! These laws (similar ones are in effect where I live, in Montgomery County, Maryland) simply hurt consumers, and the additional bureaucracy of running a network of stores costs the states millions. Regulation through licensing would probably achieve whatever misguided goals the states are trying to achieve, while costing less, and freeing consumers to have more choice of wines and other liquor. Why is it that people are so free market, except in the areas where it clearly makes sense to have one?
Bush and Iraq: Ron Brownstein compares Bush's realization that his "needs outmatch his means" in Iraq to Bush ignoring the same fact at home -
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/columns/la-na-outlook8sep08,1,1865285.column
The New Economy: When the Malden Mills textile factory burnt down in 1995, the owner was a hero for not closing the factory, but rebuilding it. Now near bankruptcy and facing a hostile takeover by creditors, the jobs are likely bound for Mexico. Oh, and yeah, parts of the US government, through the Import-Export Bank, are helping add to the unemployment rolls. Another victory for free trade -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33277-2003Sep5.html
It's Back! A Singapore Man has tested positive for the SARS virus, the first new case in 5 months, and the start of what doctors think could be a resurgence of the bug -
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/09/08/international1104EDT0530.DTL&type=health
Look Who's Running for President: John Edwards has decided he wants to be unemployed, so he will not run for his Senate seat again -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40064-2003Sep7.html
Look Who's Running for President 2: Even if Gen. Wesley Clark decides to get into the race, does he have a chance at this late date? Well, it would be tough, but don't count him out -
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0309.sullivan .html
Look Who's Running for President 3: Republicans are starting to become worried that Howard Dean may be a tougher opponent than they thought -
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030908/5477666s.htm
Bad John Edwards Photo of the Day:
Ok, ok, people, thanks. Now give me your luggage so I can load the bus.
Fair and Balanced: The White House apparently was very cooperative in Showtime's Bush Campaign commercial disguised as a film about 9/11 -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/08/national/08LETT.html
The end of Gotham? A decentralized economy and new technology could spell problems for cities like New York, and good fortunate for cities like Kansas City -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34590-2003Sep6.html
College Football Score of the Week: Ah, yes, time for College Football season again. While most of the focus is on the million dollar programs that are really just professional farm teams, there's another side to college football...the lovely mismatches that Division III produces. This week, it was Rockford College taking on Trinity Bible College. Guess the kids at Trinity were studying scripture more than the playbook, as they lost 105-0, a new NCAA record -
http://www.d3football.com/story.php?story=2030
Man's Best Friend: A Colorado man's dog kept him alive after a bathroom fall for 5 days until helping him get rescued -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3090042.stm
Have a great day!
