It's Bill!

Gates: Obama more analytical than Bush
Published: 03.01.09, 17:51 / Israel News
When asked what it was like working with US President Barack Obama, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Obama is somewhat more analytical and wants to hear from everyone in the room on an issue and will call on people who don't speak up.

Gates says Bush was interested in different points of view, but didn't go out of his way to get them. (AP)

I never liked Gates. I don't like Gates. And I think he should keep his big fat trap shut.

I like Mr. Murdock's "five core concepts".

I like what he's doing here in using the word "choice". It was a term that I heard a retired doctor and insist that we need to take the language back, and start with the word "choice". He made a compelling argument, and I like seeing it in action. It definitely gives positive spin to what Mr. Murdock is saying.

Is he related to Rupert?

I liked him a lot.

re: #2 Nevergiveup

Gates: Obama more analytical than Bush
Published: 03.01.09, 17:51 / Israel News
When asked what it was like working with US President Barack Obama, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Obama is somewhat more analytical and wants to hear from everyone in the room on an issue and will call on people who don't speak up.

Gates says Bush was interested in different points of view, but didn't go out of his way to get them. (AP)

I never liked Gates. I don't like Gates. And I think he should keep his big fat trap shut.

Gates and Obama both fancy themselves academics of sorts, affinity there.

I think Gates has been good in office, overall. Obama, so far, is bucking for total disaster, with some tiny chance still of success. Time will tell.

There's a long interview with Thompson for the FredHeads.

re: #7 itellu3times

Gates and Obama both fancy themselves academics of sorts, affinity there.

I think Gates has been good in office, overall. Obama, so far, is bucking for total disaster, with some tiny chance still of success. Time will tell.

I've ALWAYS been suspicious of Gates, but I really am of anyone who can serve two masters?

I am watching the Sunday pundit programs. Karl Rove was good on the Stephanopolis show. On Meet the Press they were saying that the demographic is changing and I agree with that, as it does have implications for the GOP.

re: #10 Afrocity
Good morning to you! Uh, how is the demographic changing?

re: #11 realwest

This country is becoming browner. American demographics are shifting an it is a very different map than what Reagan had to deal with. Birth rates among Hispanics and African Americans are outnumbering those of Caucasians, and it is projected that Caucasians will become the minority in our lifetime. This is already happening in Texas. If the GOP wants to remain a viable party in the future, the Republican party has no choice- they have to court the votes of these two demographics. New Hampshire used to be a 'swing state' one-third of potential voters are new to the state and the majority self-identify as Democrats.

re: #2 Nevergiveup
Well it may be that Obama IS somewhat more analytical than Bush. Obama did go to law school and law school does put most of its emphasis on analytical thinking.
The problem is what does one do after one has analyzed the data?
And I think it's pretty clear to me that Obama immediately starts thinking about what it means in terms of elections (hence all that money for ACORN in the "stimulus bill"). Bush wasn't above pork, but HIS analysis was what is best for the USA.

re: #13 realwest

Well it may be that Obama IS somewhat more analytical than Bush. Obama did go to law school and law school does put most of its emphasis on analytical thinking.
The problem is what does one do after one has analyzed the data?
And I think it's pretty clear to me that Obama immediately starts thinking about what it means in terms of elections (hence all that money for ACORN in the "stimulus bill"). Bush wasn't above pork, but HIS analysis was what is best for the USA.

No argument, but the Sec. of Defense should keep his "insights" to himself. And Little loyalty would be nice also.

I like that they're touch on the female misogyny and sexism in the campaign coverage.

What possesses a woman to be a reporter in Iran? An Italian reporter and a Canadian reporter were both raped and tortured. Now we have an American in custody, not heard from for over two weeks.

*feeling kinda validated*

Please, someone kindly provide a hankie to Mr. Gates so that he may wipe is nose clean.

re: #12 Afrocity
Well, perhaps in YOUR lifetime, but not in mine*. Last census, iirc, showed that America is still over 70% "white". And while I'll certainly grant that Hispanic voters are becoming a major force to be reckoned with, there is no real history of Hispanic Americans and Black Americans having a great deal of the same interests at heart. Indeed, there is a long history of animosity between Hispanic Americans and Black Americans.
And finally - and regrettably, the Black birth rate may be higher than the White birth rate, but so, too, is the Black death rate, particularly in Urban America.
* With a coniserable amount of luck, my number will be up within 5 years.

re: #16 pat

What possesses a woman to be a reporter in Iran? An Italian reporter and a Canadian reporter were both raped and tortured. Now we have an American in custody, not heard from for over two weeks.

Bawney Fwanks just volunteered to go.

re: #14 Nevergiveup
Gates IS being loyal...to Obama.

re: #2 Nevergiveup

Mr. Armywife has never been a fan, either. Though he tends to not offer opinions on stuff like this all that often in public. Military types are like that, I've noticed. The ones that do squawk loudly are typically misguided from the start (Wesley Clark anyone?).

re: #19 realwest
Addendum: while New Hampsire may have changed it's demographics and had new residents of the state as self-identifying Democrats, I'd wager that few if any of them are Black or Hispanic.

re: #16 pat

What possesses a woman to be a reporter in Iran? An Italian reporter and a Canadian reporter were both raped and tortured. Now we have an American in custody, not heard from for over two weeks.

I don't know that they get it. Some how they think the 1st Amend, and the protections they enjoy here in this country apply every where. At one level they know about the dangers, but they don't really believe it. After all they are an REPORTER! And in this case an American, as if those things cast an invisible force field of protection around them.

re: #19 realwest

Well, perhaps in YOUR lifetime, but not in mine*. Last census, iirc, showed that America is still over 70% "white". And while I'll certainly grant that Hispanic voters are becoming a major force to be reckoned with, there is no real history of Hispanic Americans and Black Americans having a great deal of the same interests at heart. Indeed, there is a long history of animosity between Hispanic Americans and Black Americans.
And finally - and regrettably, the Black birth rate may be higher than the White birth rate, but so, too, is the Black death rate, particularly in Urban America.
* With a coniserable amount of luck, my number will be up within 5 years.

Why own thought is to agree that the GOP must court Latino voters. For that reason, we need to find an immigration solution that asserts our soverighty but is not punitive.

re: #23 realwest

Addendum: while New Hampsire may have changed it's demographics and had new residents of the state as self-identifying Democrats, I'd wager that few if any of them are Black or Hispanic.

Well, I'm not sure how they vote but a visit to the mall in Nashua, NH feels like you just landed in El Paso or Tijuana.

Good afternoon lizards. How is everyone today?

Well y'all it's been grand but I gotta leave now. Hopefully I'll get the chance to see you all down the road (Duke Power and TimeWarner willing!)!

re: #19 realwest

Many Black Americans are of Hispanic/Latino descent. The Republicans should find out how to better market themselves to minority communities as a party that is on their side, while still maintaining the conservative principles that define us as Republicans. I believe that the socially conservative viewpoints that the Republicans aspire to will be popular among the African American community, so there are votes to be had there. Actually more blacks are becoming educated an living longer. The urban areas do not speak to the entire race.

re: #26 sleepyone

El Paso is in Texas, not Mexico. I was born there.

Somewhat off topic but speaks to conservative values.

Work Is A Blessing
by Lt. Gen. Russel Honore (Ret.)

I grew up in Lakeland, La., one of 12 children. We all lived on my parents' subsistence farm. We grew cotton, sugar cane, corn, hogs, chickens and had a large garden, but it didn't bring in much cash. So when I was 12, I got a part-time job on a dairy farm down the road, helping to milk cows. We milked 65 cows at 5 in the morning and again at 2 in afternoon, seven days a week.

In the kitchen one Saturday before daylight, I remember complaining to my father and grandfather about having to go milk those cows. My father said, "Ya know, boy, to work is a blessing."

[snip]

And I have come to believe that people without jobs are not free. They are victims of crime, the ideology of terrorism, poor health, depression and social unrest. These victims become the illegal immigrants, the slaves of human trafficking, the drug dealers, the street gang members. I've seen it over and over again on the U.S. border, in Somalia, the Congo, Afghanistan and in New Orleans. People who have jobs can have a home, send their kids to school, develop a sense of pride, contribute to the good of the community, and even help others. When we can work, we're free. We're blessed.

re: #23 realwest

Addendum: while New Hampsire may have changed it's demographics and had new residents of the state as self-identifying Democrats, I'd wager that few if any of them are Black or Hispanic.

Hi RW! Actually NH is a lot different than the place I left about 15 years ago. Even my little hometown which is far enough upstate to avoid the MA transplants has seen a shift similar to what Afrocity described.

re: #30 ArmyWife

El Paso is in Texas, not Mexico. I was born there.

I realize that. I was born in Texas as well but used it as an example of an American city with a large hispanic population. That's all.

More discussion on the language we use. There's a lot of truth in this.

re: #25 Dark_Falcon

Why own thought is to agree that the GOP must court Latino voters.

It is my opinion that, rather than court any voting block, Conservatives should state clearly their principles and so cause voters to come to the party. Conservatives must not compromise their ethics or principles in order to be inclusive. Conservatism has worked every time it is tried, and does not need to change. If anything, the way the message is delivered might need to change. That, however, is the only "Change I could believe in".

re: #35 NelsFree

It is my opinion that, rather than court any voting block, Conservatives should state clearly their principles and so cause voters to come to the party. Conservatives must not compromise their ethics or principles in order to be inclusive. Conservatism has worked every time it is tried, and does not need to change. If anything, the way the message is delivered might need to change. That, however, is the only "Change I could believe in".

Well said.

re: #35 NelsFree

It is my opinion that, rather than court any voting block, Conservatives should state clearly their principles and so cause voters to come to the party. Conservatives must not compromise their ethics or principles in order to be inclusive. Conservatism has worked every time it is tried, and does not need to change. If anything, the way the message is delivered might need to change. That, however, is the only "Change I could believe in".

Uh, Barry Goldwater lost. Just sayin'.

re: #35 NelsFree

It is my opinion that, rather than court any voting block, Conservatives should state clearly their principles and so cause voters to come to the party. Conservatives must not compromise their ethics or principles in order to be inclusive. Conservatism has worked every time it is tried, and does not need to change. If anything, the way the message is delivered might need to change. That, however, is the only "Change I could believe in".

Like I said in #29: The Republicans should find out how to better market themselves to minority communities as a party that is on their side, while still maintaining the conservative principles that define us as Republicans.

No one said anything about anyone compromising anything. Why would that be assumed?

I see the RINOs are out in force dissing Rush. You know..just when I get ready to give up a little of my cash to the GOP again, they start with the conciliatory rhetoric Idiots.

Mideast envoy Tony Blair visits Gaza

[Link: www.jpost.com...]

Blair said at a UN-run school in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun. "These are the people who need to be the focus of all our efforts for peace and progress from now on."

Hey asshat, why are these fuckwads the focus. Get your head out of your ass!

Iran gets info on Obama helicopter

A file-sharing program in a defense contractor's computer system allowed outside access to data on the U.S. president's helicopter, a monitor says.

Bob Boback, the chief executive officer of Tiversa, told WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh his company found blueprints and avionics information on Marine One at a computer network in Tehran. Tiversa, based in Cranberry, Pa., traced the information back to a Maryland company where an employee apparently downloaded a file-sharing program.

"When downloading one of these file-sharing programs, you are effectively allowing others around the world to access your hard drive," Boback said.

Boback said his company notified the federal government of the security breach.

In addition to Iran, China, Pakistan, Qatar and Yemen appear to be looking for sensitive information made available by file-sharing, Boback said.

re: #35 NelsFree

It is my opinion that, rather than court any voting block, Conservatives should state clearly their principles and so cause voters to come to the party. Conservatives must not compromise their ethics or principles in order to be inclusive. Conservatism has worked every time it is tried, and does not need to change. If anything, the way the message is delivered might need to change. That, however, is the only "Change I could believe in".

DING!

I'm watching "the conservative view" - fabulous.

re: #35 NelsFree

Exactly! That is the point Limbaugh made so eloquently at CPAC. Conservatism does not need to be "re-thought" or modified to attract new voting blocs. It is what it is...and it is the most effective political philosophy for producing prosperity, peace and most importantly freedom. Without freedom peace and prosperity will not happen, at least on a sustained basis.

The conservative movement does not need to change itself to attract hispanics. Hispanics shoud be attracted to conservatism naturally.

re: #38 Afrocity

Like I said in #29: The Republicans should find out how to better market themselves to minority communities as a party that is on their side, while still maintaining the conservative principles that define us as Republicans.

No one said anything about anyone compromising anything. Why would that be assumed?

I think we need to learn PR and marketing, but our core product is a winner.

Watched Karl Rove and George Will debate Kristina Vandenwhatever and another Clinton era leftover. 8 disastrous years, tax cuts for the rich, Bush deficits, blah, blah, blah. Democrat talking points always come across louder.
Saw Slumdog last night. Surprisingly good.

re: #45 Sharmuta

I think we need to learn PR and marketing, but our core product is a winner.

Sharmuta, thank you. Upding.

re: #40 Nevergiveup

Mideast envoy Tony Blair visits Gaza

[Link: www.jpost.com...]

Blair said at a UN-run school in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun. "These are the people who need to be the focus of all our efforts for peace and progress from now on."

Hey asshat, why are these fuckwads the focus. Get your head out of your ass!

Here is the Beeb report
Note this, at the end:
'"Israel must do the right thing and allow much-needed goods to get through to those men, women and children who continue to suffer."'
(That was not Blair, that was the official British Minister for International Development!)

Not one word about the hamasholes doing 'the right thing' by perhaps not lobbing missiles into Israel ...

re: #9 Nevergiveup

I've ALWAYS been suspicious of Gates, but I really am of anyone who can serve two masters?

I think that's a little strong, you never worked in a place where management changed?

re: #40 Nevergiveup

Mideast envoy Tony Blair visits Gaza

[Link: www.jpost.com...]

Blair said at a UN-run school in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun. "These are the people who need to be the focus of all our efforts for peace and progress from now on."

Hey asshat, why are these fuckwads the focus. Get your head out of your ass!

He's an idiot. Idiot..my word of the day. Idiots everywhere. You cannot escape them. They're everywhere. To the left, to the right, everywhere you you look.

re: #46 kansas

Watched Karl Rove and George Will debate Kristina Vandenwhatever and another Clinton era leftover. 8 disastrous years, tax cuts for the rich, Bush deficits, blah, blah, blah. Democrat talking points always come across louder.
Saw Slumdog last night. Surprisingly good.

Katrina was her name and she was an idiot who spewed Daily Kos talking points. I loved it when Karl Rove told her to actually read something.

re: #29 Afrocity

The Republicans should find out how to better market themselves to minority communities as a party that is on their side, while still maintaining the conservative principles that define us as Republicans.

Hey, need to better market to majority communities, too!

re: #36 sleepyone

Well, thank you. I've had some senior moments lately on this blog. I really want to contribute to the mutual edification of Lizards everywhere. Information is our power to influence others. We must share this with others Beyond the Blog. It it my opinion that 2009 will see significant protests against the Socialism being permeated.
I would like also to tip my hat to Mandy Manners. Her courteous rejoinder to me on a previous thread bolstered my faith in Lizard Natue. I attempted to respond with a completely off-topic video, but my PC stalled when the light turned green. I shall have to post it later. Thank you, Mandy.

re: #31 jcm

Somewhat off topic but speaks to conservative values.

Work Is A Blessing
by Lt. Gen. Russel Honore (Ret.)

Morning to all lizards from an infrequent poster:

IIRC, he is of Katrina's 'stuck on stupid' fame.

Talk about core/corps values!

re: #44 LionOfDixon

Exactly! That is the point Limbaugh made so eloquently at CPAC. Conservatism does not need to be "re-thought" or modified to attract new voting blocs. It is what it is...and it is the most effective political philosophy for producing prosperity, peace and most importantly freedom. Without freedom peace and prosperity will not happen, at least on a sustained basis.

The conservative movement does not need to change itself to attract hispanics. Hispanics shoud be attracted to conservatism naturally.

Argh, again no one ever said that. Sound like some want to learn the hard way. When Nels said "Conservatives should state clearly their principles and so cause voters to come to the party"

How is that working for us so far? If their are negative perceptions that minorities have of this party, it is the party's job to dispel those negative perceptions. It takes more than having a visible Jindal or Steele. It takes an honest discussion. It is even defeatist to say "in order to get those votes we need to compromise" as if they (minorities) may not believe in what you believe in. If you feel that way, then the battle was lost before it began

I am a big fan of Deroy and am fortunate to be personally acquainted with him.

re: #38 Afrocity

Dear Afrocity,

I reread carefully your post and agree that you did state that no compromise should be made. Since we are in agreement I hope that we can collectively together further the aims of conservatism. I welcome your input and efforts to improve the presentation of the message.

Sincerely,
NelsFree

re: #57 NelsFree

Thank you. I look forward to working with you. :-)

re: #55 Afrocity

When Nels said "Conservatives should state clearly their principles and so cause voters to come to the party"

How is that working for us so far? If their are negative perceptions that minorities have of this party, it is the party's job to dispel those negative perceptions. It takes more than having a visible Jindal or Steele. It takes an honest discussion. It is even defeatist to say "in order to get those votes we need to compromise" as if they (minorities) may not believe in what you believe in. If you feel that way, then the battle was lost before it began

It is my opinion that the MSM has so thoroughly distorted the Conservative message that Conservatives need to bypass them and go directly to the masses. Reagan did it with Presidential Addresses with graphics. Depending on the MSM to explain Conservatism has certainly not worked so far.
You know, I think we are closer in agreement than may be perceived. What kind of beer do you like? Where is the nearest Applebee's to you?

re: #55 Afrocity

The problem is, the conservatives have not had their message effectively told. McCain was probably the worst candidate, as far as conservatives were concerned, because of his tendancy to alter his positions so as to be seen as a "maverick," trying to "reach across the aisle" or be the darling of the press. Bush didn't even do a good job of fully articulating conservative core principles.

Palin was probably the best in the last election...she got close but not close enough. Anyone who claims conservatism should change to attract new voters, is not, a priori, a conservative.

The problem is not with the definition...the problem is that the claimed salespeople are not conservatives themselves.

Like I have said many times, Conservatism, like Liberty itself, is a tough sell.
"Vote for me, I will take away Lefty's Free Stuff" is the basic message.

re: #61 rawmuse

Conservatism is an easy sell for the brave and a tough sell to the coward. Vice versa for modern liberalism.

re: #59 NelsFree

I agree and admit that the there are a lot of myths out there about Conservatism that the Left and MSM distorts. Since I am a recent transfer. I think the GOP does not fight hard enough for what it believes in. There is a passivity there that is a detriment to getting your message out.

Barbara Comstock is great.

Go here is you are against the deception business killing democrat/union marriage.

[Link: www.workforcefairness.com...]

re: #10 Afrocity

I am watching the Sunday pundit programs. Karl Rove was good on the Stephanopolis show. On Meet the Press they were saying that the demographic is changing and I agree with that, as it does have implications for the GOP.

Here's a link on the GOP demographic loss over the years I found from Hot Air

re: #11 realwest

Good morning to you! Uh, how is the demographic changing?

link

It is my opinion that the MSM has so thoroughly distorted the Conservative message that Conservatives need to bypass them and go directly to the masses. Reagan did it with Presidential Addresses with graphics. Depending on the MSM to explain Conservatism has certainly not worked so far.

So didn't Rush and Coulter do just that, and was their message yours ?

re: #67 avanti

So didn't Rush and Coulter do just that, and was their message yours ?

Well, Chief, while I did not hear Ann Coulter's remarks, I did catch almost all of Rush's most excellent extemporaneous speech. I am an absolute Dittohead. I applaud Fox for broadcasting his "First National Address". I doubt that any other TV news channel showed it all. They will most likely show snippets in a manner so as to take remarks out of context. Now, If CPAC had paid for broadcast time on CBS, NBC, and ABC, Conservatism would have reached an audience not used to Real Clear Conservatism.
What rating are you, Chief?

I simply don't put a lot of stock into elites and others that insist that we, as conservatives, must become more liberal to win as conservatives. That is not only nonsense, it smells somewhat of a lack of confidence in one's own principles, if in fact the one espousing it is a conservative.

As Reagan said, let them (the liberals and democrats) go their own way, but conservatives must stay true to their own ideals, even if it means losing an election cylce or two. The GOP gets into trouble when it trys to sound like the party of the Ass.

re: #68 NelsFree

Well, Chief, while I did not hear Ann Coulter's remarks, I did catch almost all of Rush's most excellent extemporaneous speech. I am an absolute Dittohead. I applaud Fox for broadcasting his "First National Address". I doubt that any other TV news channel showed it all. They will most likely show snippets in a manner so as to take remarks out of context. Now, If CPAC had paid for broadcast time on CBS, NBC, and ABC, Conservatism would have reached an audience not used to Real Clear Conservatism.
What rating are you, Chief?

BTW, thanks so much for the Chief, I only hear it from very old friends and at the VFW, but it still feels good. BTW, CNN showed the Rush speech too, I was not inspired by the message, but the CPAC crowd did love it.

re: #2 Nevergiveup

When your decisions are based upon principal you do not need an opinion poll to make up your mind. +

"finding common ground" - excellent!

I'm going to watch the clip of Deroy, but first I want to say, that I find Mr Murdock very inspiring in general and have written to him several times thanking him for his insightful columns.

re: #72 FrogMarch

"Common Ground" can also be a no-man's land as well as a DMZ.

Those who would trade our freedoms for the soup kitchen of the welfare state have told us that they have a utopian strategy for peace without victory ... they call their policy accommodation. And they say if we only avoid any direct confrontation with the enemy, he'll forget his evil ways and learn to love us. All who oppose them are labeled as warmongers. They say we offer simple answers to complex questions. Well, maybe there is a simple answer. Not an easy answer, but simple.

If you and I have the courage to tell our elected officials that we want our national policy based on that which we know in our hearts is morally right. We cannot buy our security, our freedom from the threat of the Bomb, by committing an immorality so great as to tell a billion souls now enslaved behind the Iron Curtain to give up your dreams of freedom because to save our own skins we're willing to make a deal with your slave masters. Alexander Hamilton said a nation that can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one. Now let's set the record straight. There's no argument over the choice between peace and war, but every lesson of history tells us that the greater danger lies in appeasement, and this is the spectre our well-meaning liberal friends refuse to face; that their policy of accommodation is appeasement. And it offers no choice between peace or war, but only between fight or surrender. If we continue to accommodate, if we continue to back and retreat, the eventually we have to face the final demand ... the ultimatum. And what then? When Nikita Kruschev has told his people he knows what our answer will be? He has told them that we are retreating under the pressure of the Cold War and that one day, when the time comes to deliver the ultimatum our surrender will be voluntary, because by that time we will have weakened from within spiritually, morally, and economically. He believes this because from our side he has heard voices calling for peace at any price, or better Red than dead, or as one commentator put it, he'd rather live on his knees than die on his feet. And therein lies the road to war, because those voices don't speak for the rest of us. You and I know and do not believe that life is so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery.

If nothing in life is worth dying for, then when did this begin? Just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the Pharaoahs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead, who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis, didn't die in vain. Where then is the road to peace? Well, there's a simple answer after all. You and I having the courage to say to our enemies there is a price we will not pay, there is a line beyond which they may not advance.

This is the meaning in the phrase of Barry Goldwater, peace through strength. Winston Churchill said the destiny of man cannot be measured by material computations. And he said there's something moving in time and space and beyond time and space which, whether we like it or not, spells duty. You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on Earth, or we will sentence them to take the final step into a thousand years of darkness.

We will keep in mind and remember that Barry Goldwater has faith in us. He has faith that you and I have the ability, and the dignity, and the right o make our own decisions, and determine our own destiny.

Ronald Reagan, A Time for Choosing, 1964

re: #75 Tigger2005

Amen. My favorite line: "The martyrs of history were not fools."

That speech should be taught along side the "I have a dream" speech.

And really, all that needs to happen in a CPAC meeting is for them to replay Reagan's 1975 speech over and over until it sinks into everyone's head:

[Link: www.conservative.org...]

My favorite part:

This is no time to repeat the shopworn panaceas of the New Deal, the Fair Deal and the Great Society. John Kenneth Galbraith, who, in my opinion, is living proof that economics is an inexact science, has written a new book. It is called “Economics and the Public Purpose.” In it, he asserts that market arrangements in our economy have given us inadequate housing, terrible mass transit, poor health care and a host of other miseries. And then, for the first time to my knowledge, he advances socialism as the answer to our problems.

Shorn of all side issues and extraneous matter, the problem underlying all others is the worldwide contest for the hearts and minds of mankind. Do we find the answers to human misery in freedom as it is known, or do we sink into the deadly dullness of the Socialist ant heap?

Those who suggest that the latter is some kind of solution are, I think, open to challenge. Let’s have no more theorizing when actual comparison is possible. There is in the world a great nation, larger than ours in territory and populated with 250 million capable people. It is rich in resources and has had more than 50 uninterrupted years to practice socialism without opposition.

We could match them, but it would take a little doing on our part. We’d have to cut our paychecks back by 75 percent; move 60 million workers back to the farm; abandon two-thirds of our steel-making capacity; destroy 40 million television sets; tear up 14 of every 15 miles of highway; junk 19 of every 20 automobiles; tear up two-thirds of our railroad track; knock down 70 percent of our houses; and rip out nine out of every 10 telephones. Then, all we have to do is find a capitalist country to sell us wheat on credit to keep us from starving!

I was at CPAC this Saturday and it was pretty annoying (disorganized, over-crowded, and plenty of strange people vying for your attention -- not that everyone was strange, just the loudest ones). The only saving grace was the fantastic and concise Deroy Murdock speech and PJTV panels --- highly recommended and I wish the whole weekend revolved around those debates.