I think I should have provided more context in the original post. Discussing federal expenditures independently of state and local outlays is a pretty limited picture of education policy.
Assuming Andersen's sources anonymous sources are correct - a big if - that still doesn't mean Ayers ghost-wrote the book; Andersen only claims that Ayers provided editorial guidance:
No, I happen to think conspiracy theories about anyone are stupid, including the moronic Trig Palin craze.
Andersen, moreover, is a celebrity journalist, not some hard-scrabble investigative reporter. The fact that Obama knew Ayers or blurbed his book proves absolutely nothing about the authorship of his autobiography.
Ah, yes - two "anonymous sources within Hyde Park" and some textual similarities that could link my senior freakin' thesis to Ayers' memoirs - clearly, the burden is now on Obama to prove that his memoir wasn't ghost-written.
By this logic, I could assert that Obama is secretly from Mars, cite an "anonymous source" or two, and then demand the president "prove" he's not an alien.
When possible, yes, I think we should extradite people who have fled the country after breaking our laws. I wouldn't deploy the 101st Airborne to extract Polansky, but it's not like having the Swiss arrest him for us massively taxes American resources.
Also, repeating "it was a misdemeanor" ad nauseam doesn't make Polansky's crime any less heinous.
In practical terms, I think sentencing Polanski would reaffirm the notion that no one - however famous or accomplished - is beyond the law. I also find the idea of a child rapist getting off scot-free morally abhorrent.
Good point, but I think it's undeniable that Eastern Europe is better suited to Western-style democracy than, say, Central Asia.
I'd also argue that all things considered (ethnic tensions, the enduring popularity of the BJP, lackluster enforcement of civil rights), the jury's still out on the strength of Indian democracy.
I think that's right, hence the excerpt from Electing to Fight:
"A fourth wave would involve more challenging cases: countries that are poorer, more ethnically divided, ideologically more resistant to democracy, with more entrenched authoritarian elites and with a much frailer base of governmental institutions and citizen-skills."
That sounds right, but I still thing Steyn's over-arching point about the "passivity" of Canadian society is kind of ludicrous. I mean, it was one incident.
Actually, Roque, it's my understanding that we pay above-market prices for Indian and Turkish poppy harvests to discourage drug-trafficking. I have no idea why we couldn't do the same thing for Afghanistan.
What North said. As I argue above, I also think the political logic of withdrawal will lead to more air strikes to shore up Obama's faltering national security credibility.
I'm still wondering what "intervention" or "support" means in the context of Hungary in 1956. I assure you that a massively destructive conventional war would have been much worse from the perspective of Hungarians than enduring a few more decades of Soviet repression.
What does "support" mean in the context of the 1956 uprising? I also think your decision-making calculus is skewed: short of invading Eastern Europe, the United States had no means of actually stopping the Red Army from rolling into Budapest. On the other hand, needlessly provoking the Russians risked conventional or even nuclear conflict, the consequences of which would have been devastating.
Quick thought - it occurs to me that this story would have gained more traction sooner if movement outlets hadn't been howling about Cass Sunstein and other ridiculous subjects for the past month or two. Crying wolf has its downsides.
On “Mistakes were made”
I think I should have provided more context in the original post. Discussing federal expenditures independently of state and local outlays is a pretty limited picture of education policy.
On “Another Conspiracy Theory Debunked”
Assuming Andersen's sources anonymous sources are correct - a big if - that still doesn't mean Ayers ghost-wrote the book; Andersen only claims that Ayers provided editorial guidance:
http://washingtonindependent.com/61242/the-bill-ayers-wrote-obamas-memoir-train-rolls-on
So even if Andersen's anonymously-sourced account is correct that still doesn't prove anything.
"
No, I happen to think conspiracy theories about anyone are stupid, including the moronic Trig Palin craze.
Andersen, moreover, is a celebrity journalist, not some hard-scrabble investigative reporter. The fact that Obama knew Ayers or blurbed his book proves absolutely nothing about the authorship of his autobiography.
"
Ah, yes - two "anonymous sources within Hyde Park" and some textual similarities that could link my senior freakin' thesis to Ayers' memoirs - clearly, the burden is now on Obama to prove that his memoir wasn't ghost-written.
By this logic, I could assert that Obama is secretly from Mars, cite an "anonymous source" or two, and then demand the president "prove" he's not an alien.
On “Blogosphere “divided” over Polanski arrest”
God bless you, Cheeks. God bless you.
"
When possible, yes, I think we should extradite people who have fled the country after breaking our laws. I wouldn't deploy the 101st Airborne to extract Polansky, but it's not like having the Swiss arrest him for us massively taxes American resources.
Also, repeating "it was a misdemeanor" ad nauseam doesn't make Polansky's crime any less heinous.
"
In practical terms, I think sentencing Polanski would reaffirm the notion that no one - however famous or accomplished - is beyond the law. I also find the idea of a child rapist getting off scot-free morally abhorrent.
"
As I said, the procedural questions surrounding the original arrest should be addressed. But the "just let him go" position is totally baffling.
On “Dan Drezner Owes Me $5 Bucks”
Dierkes -
I know you're a de facto Canuck by now, so I won't hold this against you. But the $ sign and "bucks" are redundant.
On “The “Low-Hanging Fruit” Theory of Democracy Promotion”
seanf -
Good point, but I think it's undeniable that Eastern Europe is better suited to Western-style democracy than, say, Central Asia.
I'd also argue that all things considered (ethnic tensions, the enduring popularity of the BJP, lackluster enforcement of civil rights), the jury's still out on the strength of Indian democracy.
On “Bachelor Party Post-Game Report”
To be honest, it's all a little fuzzy. Rebel Yell figured prominently into the proceedings, however.
On “The “Low-Hanging Fruit” Theory of Democracy Promotion”
Kyle -
I think that's right, hence the excerpt from Electing to Fight:
"A fourth wave would involve more challenging cases: countries that are poorer, more ethnically divided, ideologically more resistant to democracy, with more entrenched authoritarian elites and with a much frailer base of governmental institutions and citizen-skills."
On “the last fiscal conservative”
I feel like you should have included a clip from "The Last American Virgin" to go with post. Just sayin'
On “Friday Genius Ten”
Yesterday was the Boss's 60th birthday and we put up a mopey Joy Division playlist? Why do you hate America, Jamelle?
Great mix, though. "Thursday" is such an awesome song.
On “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town”
Mark -
That sounds right, but I still thing Steyn's over-arching point about the "passivity" of Canadian society is kind of ludicrous. I mean, it was one incident.
On “(Don’t) Carry Me Back To Ol’ Virginie”
For most libertarians, I suspect that was a feature, not a bug.
On “Strange Bedfellows”
Actually, Roque, it's my understanding that we pay above-market prices for Indian and Turkish poppy harvests to discourage drug-trafficking. I have no idea why we couldn't do the same thing for Afghanistan.
"
What North said. As I argue above, I also think the political logic of withdrawal will lead to more air strikes to shore up Obama's faltering national security credibility.
On “Friday Night Jukebox”
I'm more ambiguous than anything else - I have yet to hear a really great side-project from members of my favorite bands.
On “Should we have invaded Hungary in 1956?”
I'm still wondering what "intervention" or "support" means in the context of Hungary in 1956. I assure you that a massively destructive conventional war would have been much worse from the perspective of Hungarians than enduring a few more decades of Soviet repression.
"
What does "support" mean in the context of the 1956 uprising? I also think your decision-making calculus is skewed: short of invading Eastern Europe, the United States had no means of actually stopping the Red Army from rolling into Budapest. On the other hand, needlessly provoking the Russians risked conventional or even nuclear conflict, the consequences of which would have been devastating.
On “Beatlemania”
I actually thought the original Let It Be release was better than Let It Be . . . Naked.
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To be fair, Let It Be is probably the weakest, most disjointed Beatles album. But The Replacements were great . . .
On “ACORN stuff.”
Quick thought - it occurs to me that this story would have gained more traction sooner if movement outlets hadn't been howling about Cass Sunstein and other ridiculous subjects for the past month or two. Crying wolf has its downsides.
On “Will Wilkinson does dating”
Indeed.
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