Cautious On McCain

It's almost certain the election will be McCain v. Obama in the fall, but I have yet to decide between those two. McCain's stance on the war is suicidal, yet Obama has his liberal moments.

If you lean toward the conservative/libertarian side like myself, one would think voting for McCain is a shoe-in, however he appears to be taking some heat, especially from libertarians. It just goes to show how far removed the GOP is from true conservative principals and values these days.

Matt Welch from Reason Magazine and an author on a book about McCain took out an op-ed in the NYT to discuss the dangers of a McCain presidency.

Like many country-first, party-second military officers who began second careers in Washington, Mr. McCain is often mischaracterized as a politician without any identifiable ideology. But all of his actions can be seen as an attempt to use the federal government to restore your faith in ... the federal government. Once we all put our shoulder on the same wheel, there’s nothing this country can’t do.
It can be a bracing approach when his issues line up with yours — I, for one, would welcome President McCain’s unilateral wars on pork-barrel spending and waterboarding — but it’s treacherous territory for those of us who consider “the pursuit of happiness” as something best defined by individuals, not crusading presidents-to-be.

The Race is Over

Why is the media still treating the democratic nomination as a horse-race between Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton? Mike Allen and Jim Vandehei point out how unlikely it is that Sen. Clinton can come away with the nomination. Why doesn't the MSM see this as well?

One big fact has largely been lost in the recent coverage of the Democratic presidential race: Hillary Rodham Clinton has virtually no chance of winning.Her own campaign acknowledges there is no way that she will finish ahead in pledged delegates. That means the only way she wins is if Democratic superdelegates are ready to risk a backlash of historic proportions from the party’s most reliable constituency.Unless Clinton is able to at least win the primary popular vote — which also would take nothing less than an electoral miracle — and use that achievement to pressure superdelegates, she has only one scenario for victory. An African-American opponent and his backers would be told that, even though he won the contest with voters, the prize is going to someone else.People who think that scenario is even remotely likely are living on another planet.

Picking Apart the Myth

It is common to hear that marijuana should be illegal because it is a "gateway drug." Essentially, this means that if one smokes marijuana, the marijuana itself somehow leads that individual to trying more serious and harmful drugs such as cocaine. However, there is a major fault in this argument. Jacob Sullum points out, "people who enjoy the effects of marijuana are logically, more likely to try other mood-altering drugs than those who are unwilling to try marijuana. In other words, many of the factors associated with a willingness to try marijuana are, presumably, the same as those associated with a willingness to try other drugs."

In Sullum's article, No Bad Drugs he lists the various arguments against drugs, but then rationally picks them apart. As expected, most arguments for making drugs illegal are fueled by emotion. Unsurprisingly, these types of arguments do not stand up to rational thought or scientific findings.

War on Drugs Takes Another Victim

This would have been avoided if drugs were legalized.

Doesn't anyone think the force and tactics of the police was a bit excessive? They were going to encounter a non-violent, 100lb man with no prior criminal charges over suspected marijuana growing. I don't think it is necessary to break down the door and enter the house forcefully during the middle of the night. Keep in mind it is marijuana, not a serial killer.

And it appears prior to the fatal break-in, police officers illegally broke into his house to gather information for a warrant. Fourth Amendment violation anyone?

Yet, in the course of defending himself and his home, he has been locked in jail for over six weeks and is possibly facing capital murder charges.

When will lawmakers realize how big of a failure the war on drugs is? How many more innocent lives need to be destroyed?

Don't Fly American Airlines

I guess the lesson here is - don't fall asleep.

Along with the suit against the airlines, I'm guessing a tort action of battery and IIED is forthcoming.

Gas on the Move

In California, some spots are already up to over $5 a gallon.

And can someone tell me why my future wife is upset with me for buying a motorcycle that gets 70mpg?

Prostitution

Andrew Sullivan links to a debate on a serious question.

"Why is it illegal to sell, what is perfectly legal to give away?"

Moving Towards Equality

This fall, a ban on affirmative action will head to the ballot in 5 states. And thank God the states are stepping up and not waiting for an expensive, most-likely failed attempt by the federal government.

Ward Connerly who heads the American Civil Rights Coalition is black and Native American. He beleives affirmative action creates resentment. He gave the example of college admissions where a Caucasian student might be denied admission in favor of a black student with a lower grade-point average. "It's foolish not to think that the kid who is turned away is not going to ... resent that."

Exactly the point. If someone knows affirmative action is in effect, anytime one sees a minority working in an elevated position or accepted to an elite school, one is skeptical they reached that point solely on merit. It discredits the true acheivements of minorities.

Ward continued, "If it was wrong when I was born in '39 ... it's wrong now," he said. "If it was wrong to do it against a brown-skinned man, it's wrong to do it against a white man."

Ready to Lead on Day What?

Today, the Washinton Post's article titled "Even in Victory, Clinton Team Battles Itself" presents the most in-depth analysis and coverage of a political campaign so far this season. It is definately worth the read.

If you look at it, you will see all the mistakes, the complete and utter chaos, and arrogance of the Clinton Campaign. How is it that Clinton still claims to be the candidate "ready to lead on day one" when she still isn't ready to lead her campaign on day 300? The mind reels.

Neither candidate has serious executive experience inside or outside of government. This is why running the campaign is so important in this race. It demonstrates how they will lead and what kind of leader they will become if elected. If you want to see an experiment in failed executive leadership, look no further than how the Clinton campaign has been run over this past year.

52 is the Number to Watch

According to Jonathan Chait, this is the number of delegates Hillary needs to net tonight (gain over Obama) in order to advance from the position she is currently in (Pre-March 4th Primaries).

Anything less will work against Clinton in the rapidly closing stages of the primary season. Not only is she battling against his pledged delegate count, but now she is starting to battle time itself. The window of opportunity to go ahead in the delegate count is closing fast on the Clinton campaign.