Links and Minifeatures 03 23 Friday

Congratulations, Democrats! You've just accepted responsibility for defeat.

Ignoring a White House veto threat, lawmakers voted 218-212, mostly along party lines, for a binding war spending bill requiring that combat operations cease before September 2008, or earlier if the Iraqi government does not meet certain requirements. Democrats said it was time to heed the mandate of their election sweep last November, which gave them control of Congress.

Now when are they going to leave Disneyland? Seems like they've been there since at least 1994.



**********



Anybody want to guess how soon this falls into the memory hole? Census Overstated Number of Uninsured



**********



15 British sailors seized by Iran

An Iranian naval patrol seized 15 British marines and sailors who had boarded a vessel suspected of smuggling cars off the coast of Iraq, military officials said.

This is one of the ways they send messages that they're not willing to give in, in this case to nuclear sanctions, as well as huffing up public support because they could capture 15 cut-off British sailors. As the article says, they've done this before, parading the captives on Iranian TV. Can you imagine the outrage that would occur if, say, the Guantanamo prisoners were paraded on American TV like that?



**********



Leong a long shot for top Hong Kong post



Actually, as the article says, he doesn't have a prayer of winning, even if his opponent were to fall over dead. But he has forced a public debate and questioned the government of China in public, two necessary developments.



You don't win political victories by refusing to participate. You win them one step at a time, by showing those in power that you have the power to change things, to remove them from power, then to elect yourself to power. Compromise and incrementalism are necessary parts of the game. I'd be much happier if libertarians in the US understood this half as well as this man in a place that has never known democracy.



**********



Tick tick tick. Dems Kill Effort to Cut Taxes on Estates



I wonder if the dems realize these are their own big donors they're hurting? Of course, estate tax is essentially a voluntary tax on denial, but there will be effects if we get to the 2011 sunset of the current legislation with no replacement.



I'd rather see AMT indexed to inflation, but I'll take what I can get.



**********



Home sales rise unexpectedly in Feb.



What did I tell you?



**********



Sometimes, the little things make a difference. Here's an email I got today with identifying details redacted

Whoever it is that responded to negatively about your website is a fool who can't stand to hear the truth. These are the same people who cover their ears and yell, "I can't hear you la la la lalalalalala" when you quote them a 30 year fixed rate -- and then run for the interest only loan.



I can understand why they can't hear the truth...things are ridiculous in RE in all parts of the country. My little two bedroom condo in the DELETED area is costing me over 4 times my yearly salary! I know that's ridiculous, but that's how it is now when you get a 30 year fixed and you're buying a home when you're single.



Quite simply, I don't think I would have been able to buy my first home with such clear convictions if I didn't find your website. Everything I needed the answer to was found in one of your articles. Every insider detail I was wondering about was made clear by your perspective. And for that, I am thankful.



So to those people who are signing up to be another foreclosure statistic in 4 years because they didn't read your site...I say, "thanks, and tell me when your home is up for auction."

**********



This is going to be on the bottom of all Links and Minifeatures posts from now on, unless and until I find something better.



I am a member of the human race and a citizen of the United States. It is not acceptable to consider only short term benefit to myself. It is necessary to consider the effects my actions will have upon the country and the world when my children and their children are grown. It is not acceptable to compromise with evil or those who would destroy our civilization. It is necessary to win the incremental victories, for civilizations can fall quickly, but advance only slowly in the most important ways. I may be mistaken, but I will not lie to myself or others, or allow lies and falsehoods to remain unchallenged. Even if I am ignored, I will not remain silent in the face of lies, injustice, or evil. I will not allow myself to be intimidated. Free open debate where all ideas are heard and fully examined and judged upon their merits and disadvantages is the keystone of freedom, but even freedom has its base in the ability and willingness to use force in its own defense. Differing opinions are necessary, but a free society and its members must be able to act even in the face of dissent.