The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule
is a person's conscience.
Atticus Finch
Santorum Bows Out:
Romney Has a Clear Field To the Nomination
There were already rumors about withdrawal on conservative websites, when Santorum decided to take a brief hiatus from the campaign last week, in part to tend to his youngest daughter Bella, whom has been hospitalized on multiple occasions over the past year with a rare medical condition. Already one poll (the PPP, which I have repeatedly questioned in past posts) showed Romney up by about 5 points in Santorum's home state. Technically Santorum suspended his campaign, the practical significance is that he would like to clean up his campaign debts.
This is sheer speculation on my part and I'm sure Santorum would deny it, but I suspect the real story is that Santorum's own internal polls showed Romney pulling ahead in his own home state. Several reporters had badgered him recently on whether he could remain in the race if he lost his home state, unlike Romney and Gingrich.
Ironically this leaves Gingrich in the position he always wanted: a 1-1 match with Romney, but he has badly faded near Ron Paul territory and I saw one rumor that his campaign bounced a filing fee check in Utah. Gingrich conceded on Sunday talk soup that Romney would likely be the nominee, and he was no longer engaging in anti-Romney rhetoric and instead talking about things like the platform--exactly what I predicted a few weeks back.
Romney seemed to be anticipating the move; in fact, he pulled back on his ad campaign while Santorum was in the hospital with Bella, and he had gracious things to say about Santorum after the announcement. Santorum so far doesn't seem ready yet to reconcile with Romney and endorse him. This is inevitable (after all, Santorum endorsed him in 2008), but the positive development is that Romney can run a more positive campaign and focus on Obama. (I didn't see any Romney ads before the Maryland primary, but the negative ads reportedly have been hurting his favorable ratings, especially with women.)
Obama Narcissistic Behavior Watch: Item 2 (Item 1)
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| Hoopster-in -Chief BO Ball at Easter Egg Hunt, ABC News Pool Image |
Hero of the Day
From CBS News (my edits):
As the video shows, it was a normal bus ride for the middle schoolers, when suddenly the driver slumps back in his seat [reportedly a heart attack] and releases the wheel. The bus was careening out of control, headed straight for a church. Jeremy Wuitschick, 13, acted on instinct. "So I take action," he said. "I grab the wheel, turn it right get it to the right side of the road. I take the keys out of the ignition, the engine starts turning off, and (we) start slowing down."
GSA
When I first heard that GSA was promoting Green, I naturally wondered which song the great soul singer would perform, maybe one of his original classics, like "Tired of Being Alone" or his delightful cover with Annie Lennox of the Jackie DeShannon classic below.
Let us recall just a sample reason I call Barack Obama the $5T Man:
GSA's Public Buildings Service spent $822,000 on the biennial Western Regions Conference in Las Vegas [last year] for only 300 employees, according to an inspector general's report.
The expenses included $147,000 for airfare and hotel lodging for six planning trips by conference organizers. That figure included $100,000 on two "scouting trips" and five off-site meetings and an additional $30,000 on catering costs for those trips, according to the report. Among the other expenses were $3,200 for a mind reader; $6,300 on a commemorative coin set displayed in velvet boxes; and $75,000 on a training exercise to build a bicycle, according to the IG report, which was obtained by Federal Times [and] an additional $41,480 in catering charges in exchange for the "concession" of the hotel honoring the government's lodging limit.
The agency also spent $44 a person per breakfast and $95 per person for its closing reception dinner [plus] money on mementos for attendees, clothing for GSA employees and tuxedo rentalsGuess what the mind reader told them what an obscure political blogger would think about this? By the way, how do you spend $44 on breakfast? Two $16 muffins, an $8 cup of coffee and gratuity?
How did they blow over $130K over 8 scouting/preparation trips for the 2010 conference, ranging from 5 to 31 employees per trip?
A total of $100,405.37 in employee travel costs.
Significant spending on catered food and beverages during the various pre-conference trips to the M Resort, totaling over $30,000 for the scouting trip, four pre-planning meetings, and dry run. These charges included $57.72 per head lunches ($44 for lunch plus beverages and a 22% gratuity) and $48.80 breakfasts ($40 plus a 22% gratuity) [plus] audio-visual services and printing costs.
But have no fear: the taxpayer gets to hear the GSA sing for their supper... I see someone is holding a picture of someone he voted for on American Idol in 2008.. Next time let the fat lady sing before the conference...
Wait a minute: American Idol #44 did sing Al Green...
The Rap Of Keynes and Hayek
A golden oldie co-authored by Russ Roberts of EconTalk and Club Hayek... I embedded the fight of the century video several weeks back.
Political Humor
"Today was the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, or as Republicans call it, "President Obama's socialist egg redistribution.'" - Jay Leno
[Billy complained after winning the Easter egg hunt that some of his eggs ended up in Agnes' basket. President Obama lectured that Billy shouldn't put all his eggs in one basket.
The kids who hunted near Michelle Obama's vegetable garden found recyclable plastic eggs filled with carob pieces, nuts, seeds, and dried cranberries--not to mention, all the fresh zucchini they could eat (not from the garden, of course).... Just wait until Halloween...
The White House had rescheduled the parents' Easter Nestegg Hunt to earlier in the week. When the parents complained that nobody could find their eggs under the Obama White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney shouted, "April Fools!"]
Musical Interlude: My Favorite Groups
Doobie Brothers, "Little Darlin'"
