A Congress that reasserts its power

George F. Will  "Two years into Barack Obama's presidency, we now know what he meant about "hope" and "change" - he and other progressives hope to change our national character. Three weeks into his presidency, Newsweek, unhinged by adoration of him and allowing its wishes to father its thoughts, announced that "we are all socialists now" and that America "is moving toward a modern European state." The electorate emphatically disagreed and created the 112th Congress, with its exceptionally important agenda."

Kerby Anderson: Federal Salaries

Point of View  "One article in USA Today reported that federal employees making salaries of $100,000 or more jumped from 14 percent to 19 percent during the recession's first 18 months. Many American taxpayers see this as evidence by the current administration to grow the federal government at the expense of the private economy."

Propaganda techniques in light of the Tucson shootings (Updated)

Name calling  "What does the name mean? Does the idea in question have a legitimate connection with the real meaning of the name? Is an idea that serves my best interests being dismissed through giving it a name I don't like? Leaving the name out of consideration, what are the merits of the idea itself?"

Glittering generalities  "The Institute for Propaganda Analysis suggested a number of questions that people should ask themselves when confronted with this technique:

What does the virtue word really mean?
Does the idea in question have a legitimate connection with the real meaning of the word:
Is an idea that does not serve my best interests being "sold" to me merely through its being given a name that I like? Leaving the virtue word out of consideration, what are the merits of the idea itself?

Euphemisms  "When propagandists use glittering generalities and name-calling symbols, they are attempting to arouse their audience with vivid, emotionally suggestive words. In certain situations, however, the propagandist attempts to pacify the audience in order to make an unpleasant reality more palatable. This is accomplished by using words that are bland and euphemistic."

 Transfer  "...propagandists may attempt to transfer the reputation of "Science" or "Medicine" to a particular project or set of beliefs. A slogan for a popular cough drop encourages audiences to "Visit the halls of medicine." On TV commercials, actors in white lab coats tell us that the "Brand X is the most important pain reliever that can be bought without a prescription." In both of these examples, the transfer technique is at work."

 Testimonial  "The most common misuse of the testimonial involves citing individuals who are not qualified to make judgements about a particular issue. In 1992, Barbara Streisand supported Bill Clinton, and Arnold Schwarzenegger threw his weight behind George Bush. Both are popular performers, but there is no reason to think that they know what is best for this country. "

Plain folks  "We are all familiar with candidates who campaign as political outsiders, promising to "clean out the barn" and set things straight in Washington. The political landscape is dotted with politicians who challenge a mythical "cultural elite," presumably aligning themselves with "ordinary Americans." As baby boomers approach their sixth decade, we are no longer shocked by the sight of politicians in denim who listen to rock and roll."

 More here.  The Tunnel Wall is itself propaganda; all the articles we choose reflect the beliefs expressed in our statements in the right sidebar, to wit:
  The Democrat Party is not the party of tolerance and free expression, but a party dominated by socialist-leaning people who consider business and profit-making to be anathema.
  Democrat-party-sympathisers dominate the information industry and their ideas permeate the movies, entertainment, programs and music we absorb. Our very cultural foundations and the underpinnings of a free society are undermined by their words and actions.
  "Peace" and tolerance must be preached to those who would stand up to murderous philosophies. The actions of those who murder and terrorize must be understood as caused by others who have treated them unfairly. Among the left, what was once evil has now become good.
   The philosophies and deeds of the political left are sucking the very life and energy out of American society and our can-do outlook toward challenges. More and more of our actions and choices are being determined by bureaucracies and regulations, over one hundred recently being created by ObamaCare.
  My seventy-plus years has seen decades of resistance to socialism and it's suppression of  freedom and prosperity. It is beyond comprehension to see so many Americans now so anxious to embrace it.
  All this is behind the choice of columns in the Tunnel Wall.
  Bill Hayden, the Tunnel Dweller

The comment to this post is by Laird Wilcox, who blogs at ideologicalskeptic. He writes in his blog:

The Ideological Skeptic

My intention is to help promote the study of political, religious and ideological fanaticism and extremism, to promote the objective study of political psychology with particular emphasis on the practices of propaganda, persuasion and deception, and to promote the classical liberal view of civil liberties, freedom of expression and individual rights. I have compiled large collections of quotations on these subjects which I plan to offer as free downloadable PDF files in the [n]ear future.

Political Vultures; The sick art of turning insanity into politics

Paul Krugman

Victor Davis Hanson  "Third, the outrage of Daly, Krugman, Sullivan, and others is partisan and transparently self-serving. Paul Krugman would have more credibility on the topic of extreme rhetoric had he written a column a few years ago warning Americans that it was one thing to oppose George W. Bush, but quite another to publish a novel envisioning the assassination of the president, or to award first prize at the Toronto Film Festival to a “docudrama” constructing the shooting of Bush, or to compare one’s opponents (as Al Gore and John Glenn did) to “brownshirts” and “Hitler.” Did we ever hear from Andrew Sullivan to cool the sick rhetoric about Sarah Palin, in worries that his incessant rumor-mongering about her supposed faked pregnancies had reached the point of dehumanization?

"If crazed gunmen are sadly a periodic characteristic of American culture, so are political vultures who scavenge political capital as they pick through the horrific violence.

That Krugman article: Assassination Attempt In Arizona  "You know that Republicans will yell about the evils of partisanship whenever anyone tries to make a connection between the rhetoric of Beck, Limbaugh, etc. and the violence I fear we’re going to see in the months and years ahead. But violent acts are what happen when you create a climate of hate. And it’s long past time for the GOP’s leaders to take a stand against the hate-mongers.
"Update: I see that Sarah Palin has called the shooting “tragic”. OK, a bit of history: right-wingers went wild over anyone who called 9/11 a tragedy, insisting that it wasn’t a tragedy, it was an atrocity.
"Update: I’m going to take down comments on this one; they would need a lot of moderating, because the crazies are coming out in force, and it’s all too likely to turn into a flame war."

Back to Court to Stop Ground Zero Mosque

American Center for Law and Justice "Our legal case to stop the building of the Ground Zero Mosque in New York City is moving forward with an important filing today at the Supreme Court of the State of New York, where we already have filed a lawsuit challenging the project."

Lawsuit Filed to Stop the Ground Zero Mosque  "The group also pointed to the developers' application for $5 million in public funding through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation as an indication that the project is moving forward."  Atlas Shrugs.

Watching Obama’s Tucson Speech from Behind Enemy Lines

Pajamas Media  "Over the course of visits here, my life and politics have steadily moved right, even as the retreat staff seems to have moved left. Most people I encounter here during “talking meals” never met a war or any armed conflict they tolerated, or an illegal immigrant they didn’t embrace with open arms. I’ve been tempted to ask whether these kind pacifists approved of the Revolutionary or Civil Wars but have bit my tongue and let it go. So I’ve learned to keep to keep a tight lip and keep my motto in Tucson: stay contemplative and quiet with controversy."

If you missed the rock concert memorial service but still want to pick-up a T-shirt, no worries: Ebay has you covered.

Tucson Shooting Victim Who Blamed Palin Arrested for Death Threat

Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion "I posted yesterday about Eric Fuller, who blamed Sarah Palin and others for the Tucson shooting by Jared Loughner.

"Now Fuller has been arrested for making a death threat against a local tea party leader:"

http://www.worldmag.com/editorialcartoons/

Tucson tea party leader Trent Humphries was threatened today during an interview with ABC.

"UPDATE….. The unhinged leftist J. Eric Fuller was charged with with threats and intimidation and he also will be charged with disorderly conduct."

Tucson Shooting Survivor: "It Looks Like Palin, Beck, Sharron Angle and the Rest Got Their First Target"
From DemocracyNow.org

Mexican gunman fires across border toward U.S. highway workers

El Paso Times  "Drug cartels use this busy smuggling corridor in between the Quitman Mountains and mountains in the northwestern part of Chihuahua state to traffic marijuana and sometimes cocaine, Doyle said."....

"The shots from across the border angered U.S. Rep. Francisco "Quico" Canseco, R-Texas, who represents the area.

""It is completely unacceptable that Americans at work, doing their job in America, come under gunfire from across the border in Mexico," Canseco said in a statement. "Our border is not secure from violence that threatens American lives. Securing our border against the cartels and their violent threat must be a top priority.""

The End Of Sarah Palin?

Outside the Beltway   "...Doyle McManus asserts that the Arizona shootings, and most importantly, Palin’s not-very-well-received response to the controversy that erupted thereafter, will effectively mark her end as a serious political force. McManus acknowledges, and I agree, that the argument that Palin is in any responsible for the shootings is absurd, but, he argues, that doesn’t really matter:"

I do appreciate Sarah Palin very much and have always thought she would make a excellent vice-president; much better than Joe Biden. And I feel she has been much more qualified than Barack Obama, who would have been the ideal vice president for a Bernie Sanders administration.

Fidel Castro on Obama’s speech in Arizona

Taken from CubaDebate  "When he began his speech yesterday, I observed that he was tense and highly dependent on the written pages. He soon recovered his serenity, his usual presence on the stage and the precise words for expressing his ideas. What he did not say was not said because he did not want to say it.
"As a literary piece and just praise of those who deserve it, it could be given a prize.

"As a political speech it left much to be desired."

Castro's expectations were high, most likely because he saw the Che posters along with Cuban and Soviet flags at Obama offices and rallies.
Photo: outsidethebeltway

Blame Palin

National Review  "In the week since the Arizona shootings, much of the media’s commentary exemplified Palin Derangement Syndrome. It became a joke: On Twitter, one of the most popular “hashtags” was #blamePalin, which was used to, well, blame Palin for TV-show cancellations, malfunctioning toilets, and bad restaurant service.
"Unfortunately, for all the joking of the Twitterati, liberals were serious. Here’s a list of the top ten most inane comments connecting Palin to the shootings."
Now if Democrats could only blame George W. Bush for Sarah Palin they would have all bases covered. I'm just sayin'.

10 principles for improved business climates

insider online : "A good business climate encourages existing businesses to grow, people to start new businesses, and national and international businesses to invest in an area. A poor business climate does the opposite."
1. Keep total tax burden low.
2. Keep taxes on businesses low.
3. Avoid corporate welfare.
4. Remove privileges enjoyed by labor unions.
5. Lower or eliminate minimum wages.
6. Reduce workers compensation costs.
7. Keep housing affordable.
8. Reduce the burden of regulations.
9. Discourage lawsuit abuse.
10. Attract members of the creative class.
Do not expect these principles to be adopted by the current administration.