McCain criticizes Bush's economic policies... sort of

It's nice to see McCain distance himself from Bush's shameful record of deficit-spending and say that he will cut spending, but will he? Some days, it's hard to believe that anyone can or will restore some semblance of sanity to our government's reckless fiscal policies. Also, I would like to hear less talk about cutting taxes and more talk about scrapping the current tax code completely in favor of a simpler, fairer alternative like a flat tax, but I suppose I shouldn't hold my breath on that one either.

Another great one from Hillary

In response to Obama's comment about bitter working class voters who "cling to guns or religion":

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"Senator Obama's remarks were elitist and out of touch," she said, campaigning about an hour away in Indianapolis. "They are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans."

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Yes, we can all be grateful that Hillary Clinton, of all people, is out there championing the values and beliefs of ordinary Americans against out-of-touch elitists.

Gas, oil prices at record highs

And they'll just continue to rise... and rise... and rise. My advice? Buy a hybrid. I am. Now is the perfect time to use the power of our wallets for a good cause. Our national addiction to oil is, among other things, a strategic weakness we can no longer afford. Preaching the need for energy independence and renewable energy isn't enough. We have to start putting our money where our mouths are. Now.

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Another good resource is www.fueleconomy.gov.

Was the American Revolution radical or conservative?

My friend Patrick, a.k.a. "The Local Crank," and I have had another stimulating discussion about whether the American Revolution was truly radical, as Gordon Wood claims in "The Radicalism of the American Revolution." Feel free to join in the fray by clicking here!

Mike Gravel joins Libertarian Party...

...thus ensuring that "the party of principle" continues to remain a joke in the eyes of most voters for years to come. What a pity. Our democracy could really benefit from a strong and viable third party, not to mention a fourth or fifth, but it seems fated never to be. When most people in the U.S. think of third parties, they will continue to associate them with such misfits as Lyndon LaRouche, Ross Perot, Ralph Nader and now Mike Gravel.

Quote of the Day

As the three remaining presidential candidates commemorated the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today, Hillary Clinton said she would like to create a cabinet-level position focused exclusively on ending poverty as we know it, someone to whom the president can look every single day and ask, "What have you done to end poverty in America?"

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Yeeeeeah. I'm not even sure what to say about that. If she has anyone less than God in mind, she's probably wasting her time and our money. And even God has a pretty poor track record on this score, as far as I can tell.