The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Oscar Wilde
Tweet of the Day
Word games are annoying, e.g., "fiscal conservative, social liberal". Social liberal is not the same thing as cultural liberal.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
I am not a libertine or cultural liberal. I do not feel that the use of State force to impose a virtuous lifestyle is appropriate.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Social liberalism is a term referencing an expanded set of collectively-guaranteed individual rights, e.g., financial security, education.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
I am a classical liberal which means that I don't accept collective interventions against my unalienable rights (life, liberty, property).— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
As a classical liberal, I respect the same natural rights of others. As a social individual, I recognize the need to guarantee those rights.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Social liberals have a broader concept of equality that must be enforced collectively: life-sustaining food, shelter, healthcare, income.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
We classic liberals believe in an unfettered marketplace of voluntary transactions. Social liberals believe that markets must be reformed.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
"Don't know much about history"... How does Trump retweet a quote from an account called "Il Duce"? #NeverTrump https://t.co/bC3ZavYb93— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
"No such thing as bad publicity".Support of KKK,David Duke?Protester should be roughed up?Cultists urinating on homeless Latino? #NeverTrump— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Trump's hypocrisy is astounding. The Canadian border is much longer and unprotected, and Canada has trade surpluses with the US. #NeverTrump— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
@AlexNowrasteh @AdamKissel Trump sees being politically incorrect not as a bug but feature. But Trump goes beyond violating stylistic norms.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
@AlexNowrasteh I think York would concede that Trump's behavior so far hasn't kept him from being the GOP frontrunner; he's talking Nov.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
@AlexNowrasteh Trump is a political chameleon. If he sees it's a problem in the fall campaign, he'll claim that he was misunderstood.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Social liberals believe in the markets but insist that government must serve a proactive role to guarantee egalitarian/collective rights— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Classical liberals would respond that government interventions are anti-competitive and counterproductive in a dynamic private economy.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
There is a blurry line between American social liberals and European social democrats. The latter may emphasize nationalization efforts.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Did you notice how Trump in the last debate, like his fellow Democrat progressives, bashed health insurers? Low profit margins! #NeverTrump— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Trump has called for a more open healthcare market but fails to note state mandates, in particular, community rating and guaranteed issue.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
The Dems have long denounced more open healthcare markets as a race to the bottom. They advocate expensive special-interest health mandates.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
George Will's latest column suggests that the way to kill the Trump candidacy is transparency #NeverTrump https://t.co/CHpqz8xhIZ— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Remember how the Dems attacked Romney on the 47%, car elevators, and outsourcing? Clinton knows that Trump is a phony populist. #NeverTrump— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
@jbarro How did Trump's discussing his adult daughter in intimate terms, his sexual promiscuity & multiple marriages win evangelicals?— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
American social liberals know that nationalization even in our mixed economy is a hard sell. They prefer more of an incremental approach.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
So we've seen a gradual takeover of the home mortgage industry, college loans, and health care:the Democrats expand eligibility for gov pgms— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
I suspect that's why some describe Sanders as a social democrat: he wants to radically expand government programs, like universal Medicare.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
I do think there's a legitimate question of how to deal with preexisting conditions in healthcare. Prudent people should maintain coverage.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
The knee-jerk response of progressives is to remind how the Heritage Foundation had proposed a universal catastrophic program vs HillaryCare— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
For years the left claimed Republicans are racist, uncaring, corrupt, rich-loving hypocrites.— Trumpbart News (@Trumpbart) February 28, 2016
Republicans’ response is Donald Trump.
@Trumpbart Broken clock syndrome. #NeverTrump— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Donald Trump refuses to confront the support of David Duke while the GOP under Bush 41 refused to support his statewide LA races #NeverTrump— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
What the hell is wrong with Reince Priebus? He's got a national candidate frontrunner who refuses to disavow the KKK and David Duke.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
The preexisting conditions problem in healthcare is exacerbated by government which makes insurance more expensive in after-tax dollars.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2016
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the far-right French National Front founder expelled last summer, endorsed fellow immigration restrictionist Trump.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 29, 2016
Trump likes strongmen: Putin, the way Kim Jong-un executed his uncle, and how the Chinese cracked down in Tiananmen Square, #NeverTrump— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 29, 2016
Not only has Trump won support of Sessions, Christie & David Duke but he has been endorsed by Kim Jong-un & Jean-Marie Le Pen #NeverTrump— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 29, 2016
@hughhewitt @dcexaminer @realDonaldTrump @HillaryClinton I have no interest in reading how you rationalize choosing between 2 fascists.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 29, 2016
Image of the Day@charlescwcooke: Trump hired just 3.7% of US applicants for hospitality work in Palm Beach while pursuing 500 H2B's https://t.co/TJ1ztIVYO3— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 29, 2016
The Donald Trump University Scam
Rubio Mocks Donald Trump
Political Potpourri
It looks like Clinton is set to sweep on Tuesday, the closest race being Massachusetts with a high single-digit lead. Her ads are so misleading, they make me want to rant. One is a take on the alleged gender pay gap. This is knowingly disingenuous; for example, for single women without families any purported difference is nonexistent--in fact, more women in general are earning college degrees, which are linked to higher income. Many higher-paying jobs (say, offshore oil workers, lumberjacks, etc.) are physically demanding and/or dangerous and do not attract a lot of women. I have a niece-in-law engineer (a well-compensated profession) but only about 11% of practicing engineers are female. Some lower-paying professions, e.g., teaching, attract a disproportionate number of women. Pay, at least in the private sector, reflects supply and demand and productivity. Some married women with children don't want the long hours, travel schedule, etc. There are other factors as well; for example, a number of women do a lousy job negotiating salary, say accepting the first offer. (This means knowing the going wages for this type work.) But, and this is a point we free market people make, if a worker is making below her market value, other employers have an incentive to hire her away up to her market value. But the point of some grand conspiracy is ludicrous on its face.
Trump looks to have a good day; I've seen a couple of polls with Trump within the margin of error of Cruz for Texas, but the majority of more recent polls show Cruz with a double-digit lead. However, Trump has double-digit leads in many polls, although I think Cruz or Rubio could take Arkansas, Georgia, and Virgina with any momentum from Thursday's debate. I think Cruz and Rubio waited too late to move against Trump; with 3 straight victories, Trump has momentum, and we have over the last several days seen at least 2 governors, 1 senator, and 2 Congressmen have come out to endorse Trump (including the senator--Sessions--who Cruz always mentions on his poison pill amendment for the failed Senate immigration bill). We are now seeing polls with Trump scoring in the upper-30's or low-40's. Now keep in mind that Trump has 82 delegates and needs 1237, but we are moving to winner-take-all states soon. Assuming Cruz wins Texas, that makes 2; Rubio needs at least one somewhere. Now I think if Cruz loses Texas, he's done. Kasich says he'll drop out if he doesn't carry his home state in 2 weeks; I'm not sure it even matters now, but I've seen one Ohio poll with Trump ahead.
Choose Life: Big Sister Welcomes Twin Baby Brothers
Political Cartoon
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| Courtesy of Ken Catalino via Townhall |
Stevie Wonder, "My Cherie Amour". One of my favorites.
