Links and Minifeatures 2008 09 29 Monday

Quote for the day:

"I knew water runs downhill. I didn't dream how terribly soon it would reach bottom."
-Professor Bernardo de la Paz, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein.

Carnival of Personal Finance

Instapundit

Eight minutes of video record on who did and did not want to repair this in 2004:

more history here

who was involved

More on Obama's scorched earth policy

For all George W. Bush has been maligned as the constitution's worst enemy in 200 years, he has done precisely zero to censor his critics. If George W. Bush is the constitution's worst enemy ever, what does that make Barack Obama?

more here

Question: How do Barack Obama's tactics compare to those of totalitarian dictators who supplanted more democratic forms of government.

The assignment is to investigate it yourself.

I am not the only one who thinks we're going to miss President Bush after he's gone: George Bush: The Comeback Kid

Amazing how often the President you have is always the worst one ever. Particularly if he's of the opposite party.

(btw, there really isn't much competition for James Buchanan as the worst president ever, and Jimmy Carter has the bar set pretty high for presidents within my lifetime).

Canaries in a Coal Mine

HT: Wizbang

Michael Totten: The War Won't End in Afghanistan

Al Qaedism is the most radical wing of an extreme movement which was born in the Middle East and exists now in many parts of the world. Afghanistan is not the root or the source.

Read the whole thing. From a man who's been all over the region talking to everyone from common folk to heads of state, it would be would be wise to pay attention. I don't think your average CIA chief of station knows his territory as well as Michael Totten.

I just did a final update to House Kills Best Likely Bill to Save the Markets

It's not a pretty picture. But most voters aren't paying enough attention to keep the rascals from getting away with it.