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Two of Many

It seems the Barack supporters have allied with the Obama deniers to form a supermajority aimed at perpetutating the delusion that Barry was elected due to anything but his race.

No News in the News

There’s no such thing as objective reporting. Objectivity requires verifiable fact. What is now called news is essentially a collection of impressions and opinions. It’s gossip.

If you don’t believe me, here’s Michael Crichton’s opinion from a Slate.com interview on May 23rd, 2008:

Do you think the media's factual content and accuracy is up or down from 2002 (when we last corresponded)? Do you still think it's flashy but junk?

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Unmoved

The first day of the Age of Obama is nearly over. The chattering class is affirming a transformational milestone concept to which I cannot subscribe. Even the ardent critics of Barry’s now-masked marxist worldview seem to be impressed by this superficial achievement.

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Prejudice Lives

I’m a minority. After yesterday’s electoral paroxysm, I have been more marginalized. I have nothing but to wait for the crushing gears of oppression to grind down harder on my identity and my opportunity.

The trouble is that the civil rights movements only worked toward improving a few superficially-defined communities. There are so many more ways that humans discriminate, beyond gender or color of skin. But most, perhaps nearly all, who have faith in the state’s power to correct a prejudiced culture are completely blind to the manifold oppressions they endorse.

Graphics are not Leaders

Mr. Obama’s campaign for President has had the benefit of excellent graphic design. Good graphics help sell products. But packaging is not the product itself. Once people try the product, the graphics have done their primary job, and only a genuinely good or satisfying product can sustain the brand built by advertising.

Here’s Virginia Postrel on Obama’s campaign graphics:

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A Nation of Whiners

Comedian Louis C.K. observes, “Now we live in an amazing, amazing world and it’s wasted on a the crappiest generation of just spoiled idiots.”

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I Resent You, Mr. Obama

You see, Mr. Obama, I’m the guy you intend to raise taxes on. I’m the guy who has spent 25 years toiling and sweating, fretting and fighting, stressing and risking, to build a business and get ahead. I’m the guy who has been on the very edge of bankruptcy more than a dozen times over the last 25 years, and all the while creating more and more jobs for East Texans who didn’t want to take a risk, and wouldn’t demand from themselves what I have demanded from myself. I’m the guy you characterize as “the Americans who can afford it the most” that you believe should be taxed more to provide income redistribution “to spread the wealth” to those who have never toiled, sweated, fretted, fought, stressed, or risked anything.

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The Assumption of Powerlessness

People do not choose to be victims, or so the compassionate-sounding victim’s advocates tell us. I will leave voluntary victimhood for future discussion, and instead raise the notion of Assumptive Powerlessness.

Here’s Vox Day, challenging the standard negative reaction by women to breast augmentation:

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Talent Not Required

It is said there are many paths to the top of the mountain. And it is widely believed that the better, more talented climber will reach the peak faster.

Recent research suggests talent is overrated. The less-talented may still achieve. Even without pursuing political careers.

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For the Record

I AM JOE. I am a Wal Mart schlub in flyover country who changes my own oil and unclogs drains without a license. I smoke and drink beer and toss the football in the front yard with my kid, and I figure I can fend my way without handouts from some Magic Messiah's candy bags. Most everyone in my family and most everyone I grew up with is another Joe, and if you screw with them, you screw with me.

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Pew Poll Shows Dems Less Patriotic

Nearly every American agrees with the statement "I am very patriotic," but there is a large and growing division in the intensity with which Republicans and Democrats express this sentiment. Currently, 71% of Republicans and just 48% of Democrats say they completely agree with that statement.

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The American Dream

The idea of the American Dream is evoked so often, from so many quarters, I decided I was no longer sure we all agreed on just what the dream is.

From Wikipedia, quoting James Truslow Adams:

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Ignorance is No Excuse

Legal experts in TJICistan have revealed another of nature’s immutable laws. Known as Sturgeon’s Law, this oft-overlooked rule states:

90% of Everything is Crap.

Compliance with Sturgeon’s Law is expected to result in increased efficiencies all along the NRR.

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It’s Fascism

Congress has passed the bailout/rescue bill, and the current President scurried right over and signed it into law.

Pundits speaking for the huge popular majority opposed to the plan seem to have decided to call it socialism, or a nationalization of banking and real estate. There is a political philosophy which combines those terms. National Socialism. Or, in a word, fascism.

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Not the Sinners

It's not the sinners the world is afraid of— it's the saints.

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Tyler Street

On Tyler Street we came across a boy who I now know was 9 years old. He was arguing with his little sister at the edge of a parking lot. As this child finished cussing out a baby girl, he flipped her the finger and stomped away. One of us, “The Shirts”, called over to scold the boy.

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