From CNET:

[T]he Obama administration has argued that warrantless tracking is permitted because Americans enjoy no “reasonable expectation of privacy” in their–or at least their cell phones’–whereabouts. U.S. Department of Justice lawyers say that “a customer’s Fourth Amendment rights are not violated when the phone company reveals to the government its own records” that show where a mobile device placed and received calls.

Hope! Change!

…because of course we have to prevent future crimes if we know they’re going to occur.

It’s good to see that some lefties like Rachel Maddow are sticking to their principles rather than following the sycophantic celebration of all that is Obama.

I enjoy reading opposing viewpoints. Especially when their view of the role of Government is so radically different than mine and they can still be honest about the bait-and-switch being presented to the American people as *real* Healthcare Reform. Camille Paglia writes:

You can keep your doctor; you can keep your insurance, if you’re happy with it, Obama keeps assuring us in soothing, lullaby tones. Oh, really? And what if my doctor is not the one appointed by the new government medical boards for ruling on my access to tests and specialists? And what if my insurance company goes belly up because of undercutting by its government-bankrolled competitor? Face it: Virtually all nationalized health systems, neither nourished nor updated by profit-driven private investment, eventually lead to rationing.

Nice to see that, though her political persuasion is entirely different than mine, she can also see the glaring problems with the plan(s) being floated before the nation. She points out the ludicrous rants by the likes of Pelosi aren’t even rational:

Blaming obstructionist Republicans is nonsensical because Democrats control all three branches of government. It isn’t conservative rumors or lies that are stopping healthcare legislation; it’s the justifiable alarm of an electorate that has been cut out of the loop and is watching its representatives construct a tangled labyrinth for others but not for themselves.

And while liberals, conservatives, and libertarians may disagree on many, many things, we should be able to soberly ask ourselves…

Are we like late Rome, infatuated with past glories, ruled by a complacent, greedy elite, and hopelessly powerless to respond to changing conditions?

I fear the answer is a resounding yes.

But seriously, why on earth should we expect them to actually read the legislation that will radically transform one sixth of the economy.

And we’re seeing more and more of this scenario played out as congressmen and senators come back to their districts for the August recess. Hey, maybe that’s why some are laying low!

This does not bode well for Obama and his “We Know Better Than You” big Government types’ plan to destroy the entire healthcare system in America in favor of single-payer insurance.

Well, 9 8 RINO’s have made it pretty clear today that the GOP is in lockstep with the Democrats. Neither are a friend to fiscal conservatism, the proper role of Government, nor the scientific method.

Here’s list of the 8 GOP turncoats who sold this country down the drain with a thinly disguised central planning bill:

• Mary Bono Mack (CA)
• Michael Castle (DE)
• Mark Kirk (IL)
• Leonard Lance (NJ)
• Frank LoBiondo (NJ)
• John McHugh (NY)
• Dave Reichert (WA)
• Chris Smith (NJ)

Obama is a downright liar in saying that 95% of Americans will not see “one penny” of their taxes increased. He takes a very narrow view of “taxes” in this regard because it fits the narrative, it’s far more convenient. By “taxes” here, he clearly means only Federal income taxes. When he’s talking about the hard-working, middle class’s tax burden, he includes other non-income tax withholdings like Social Security and Medicare. It’s not that I don’t think these aren’t undue, burdensome taxes on individuals, but I think we should see some consistency here. And if those are taxes, then surely we should see as a tax an increase of $1,300 per household passed to them from the higher cost of energy that this bill introduces. Only a few years in, that’s exactly what households in Britain are enjoying.

Though we were promised the most transparent, open Congress and Administration in history, we’ve seen nearly the exact opposite. One could hardly argue the point given that we’ve seen sweeping legislation after sweeping legislation come through at the eleventh hour unread, undebated, and without presentation to Americans. It’s clear why: these are horrible bills that cannot stand up under the sunshine of public scrutiny. I’m getting tired of every piece of garbage legislation that comes through with Obama’s declaration of “fierce moral urgency” attached to it. Guess what? The world isn’t simply going to collapse if Congress takes the time to read the legislation it passes. TARP. The Stimulus. The Car Bailout. When will Americans stand up and shout, “NO! We’re not going to be bullied into this anymore! The fear-mongering stops NOW!” Legislation passed without deliberation by our representatives is fraud, plain and simple.

And this laundry list of fraud and abuses goes before we’ve even discussed this point: the whole Climate Change agenda is based on a completely ridiculous premise! It’s bad science! Carbon Dioxide is a pollutant? Does anyone really believe this? If so, I kindly ask you to save the planet: stop breathing now. We need to stop letting our politicians set the scientific agenda based on a wildly popular, wholly fallacious movie starring the most boring narrator in the world as Fear-monger #1.

Not only is carbon dioxide never been substantially tied to the cause of warming, it may be a sign of a healthier, more moderate climate. As in, effect, not cause. You see, the conclusions drawn from the statistically inaccurate hockeystick graph make an argument  based on the correlation proves causation fallacy. Al Gore and politically-invested scientists took a look at that graph and concluded that because carbon dioxide levels rose with the temperature, they must have caused it!!! Too bad that’s a terrible argument. We see that all the chatter about global warming climate change is really far more religious and far less scientific. We’re not allowed to debate it, apparently. The debate is over. There’s a consensus, I swear. Now just vote on it and shut up.

Another bit of comic genius from Iowahawk.

Something written so well to describe something written even better still should not be “improved” upon with my arrogant words. Therefore, I bring you the words of Joshua from The Only Willing Move:

I’m always on the lookout for neat aphorisms that nicely encapsulate important points of Libertarian thought. This is because I think Libertarianism argues from a weak position in modern society. There aren’t very many of us to begin with, and our views are rarely, if ever, given a fair hearing in the public forum, so anything that can get the point across sucintly is helpful.

Today I came across a true gem – from hacker Eric S. Raymond via the EconTalk Podcast.

Love doesn’t scale.

…

We classical liberals get a bad rap for being heartless – but it’s just because we understand this and everyone else doesn’t. Washington doesn’t love me, Washington can’t love me, Washington shouldn’t love me, and you know what? I don’t even want it to try. I don’t give two figs about any politician’s professed “concern” for “the people” or any of that jazz because I know that love doesn’t work that way. It’s piss poor motivation for keeping the trains running.

Original Post Removed.

My intention with posting my resignation letter was to be completely forthright and transparent, the kind of thing we demand from our Government. Given that this may appear otherwise, I’ve removed this, and I’m going to retire for a few days to be with family and friends. God bless.

…the biggest welfare recipients are using our own money to lobby us for more. According to the Associated Press, “The top 10 recipients of the government’s $700 billion financial bailout spent about $9.5 million on federal lobbying during the first three months of the year.” Lead among them is GM, which burned through $2.8 million in lobbying in the first quarter alone. 

More here.

Are we really that surprised, honestly? How long have us free marketeers been saying, “If you reward something, you’ll get more of it.” GM and the others did their cost-benefit analysis, and they rationally figured that their most profitable venture was lobbying Congress. So they did more of it. And they’ll continue to do so.

So bend over, America.

with an Affirmative Action Bake Sale.