Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Lightning Round - 120611

Time is short:

  • I don't typically like judges imposing themselves into public policy, but the judge that stopped Mark Dayton's rush move to unionize day care workers did everyone a favor. There is no reason to believe that unionizing day cares does anything except provide an additional revenue stream for the unions. The judge suggested that the legislature might want to weigh in on the matter. And it certainly does.
  • The latest polling suggests that Ron Paul has passed Mitt Romney among potential supporters in Iowa. While I continue to believe there isn't a chance in hell that Ron Paul will ever be president, some of his arguments, especially those concerning the economy, do make a lot of sense. I actually preferred Romney in 2008, but in this cycle things look rather different and his technocratic style seems out of touch with the times. I suspect that events are in going to be in the saddle in 2012.
  • There's a lot that's wrong with college football right now. And the decision to put LSU and Alabama in the national championship game will not sit well with too many people outside of the southeast and the professional sports commentariat. Having said that, I have minimal sympathy for Boise State, which got shut out of the process again, because the entire thing revolves around something that Boise State can't really provide -- money. More people would rather see the Michigan Wolverines play in a major bowl game than care to see the plucky squad from Idaho. And the Michigan fan base can fill the stands in Louisiana much more easily than Boise State. That's just how it is.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Playing in a lessor conference and only scheduling one difficult non conference game doesn't exactly help Boise State's cause either. Oklahoma State has a legitimate beef, but the SEC propoganda machine did them in.

Ron Paul supporters are able to manipulate a process like they have in Iowa, but that will never play in the entire country. He's unelectable, and it doesn't matter that 5% of the Republican party likes him.

Gino said...

the Ron Paul campaign is about ideas. the GOP would be very stupid to ignore this dedicated group for too much longer.

for that matter, the nation as a whole would be stupid to ignore it as well.

Mr. D said...

the Ron Paul campaign is about ideas. the GOP would be very stupid to ignore this dedicated group for too much longer.

for that matter, the nation as a whole would be stupid to ignore it as well.


I agree. The problem that Paul has is that (a) explaining the whys of what Paul is saying takes time and (b) some of his acolytes are, to put it mildly, nasty people. I've dealt with a few Paul supporters who confuse sneering with explaining.

Needless to say, you aren't one of those people, Gino.

W.B. Picklesworth said...

Given our economic situation and the absolute necessity for less spending, less regulation and more growth, Ron Paul's ideas (many of them at least) will continue to gain ground in the GOP. If the GOP manages to fight them off like a contagion, it will spell the end of the GOP. If we want pipe dreams and warm and fuzzy facism we'll vote for Democrats.

Gino said...

some of his acolytes are, to put it mildly, nasty people. I've dealt with a few Paul supporters who confuse sneering with explaining.

just like many neocons i've had the pleasure(?) of dealing with.

Mr. D said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mr. D said...

just like many neocons i've had the pleasure(?) of dealing with.

I'm sure that's true, too.