Below The Beltway

I believe in the free speech that liberals used to believe in, the economic freedom that conservatives used to believe in, and the personal freedom that America used to believe in.

Archive for February, 2009

Hillary In China: To Heck With Human Rights

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, February 20th, 2009. Filed under China, Foreign Affairs, Hillary Clinton

Apparently, there won’t be any change we can believe in when it comes to America’s China policy:
BEIJING, Feb. 20–Human rights violations by China cannot block the possibility of significant cooperation between Washington and Beijing on the global economic crisis, climate change and security threats like North Korea’s nuclear program, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton [...]

Judge Andrew Napolitano: My New Hero

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, February 20th, 2009. Filed under Individual Liberty, Politics

It’s too bad that Fox is only offering Judge Andrew Napolitano’s new program Freedom Watch over the internet, because it would be far better to have people watching him than O’Reilly, Hannity, or Greta:

H/T: The Other McCain

Obama’s Mortgage Plan Faces Widespread Doubt

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, February 20th, 2009. Filed under Barack Obama, Credit Crisis, Economics, Politics, Real Estate, Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis

At least initially, it doesn’t look like President Obama’s mortgage bailout plan is impressing the public:
Forty-five percent (45%) of Americans oppose the federal government subsidizing mortgage payments for financially troubled homeowners, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Thirty-eight percent (38%) think government subsidies are a good idea, and 18% are not sure which [...]

Iran A Bigger Problem Than We Thought ?

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, February 20th, 2009. Filed under Foreign Affairs, Iran

A new report from the United Nations raises some cause for concern:
In their first appraisal of Iran’s nuclear program since President Obama took office, atomic inspectors have found that Iran recently understated by a third how much uranium it has enriched, United Nations officials said Thursday.
The officials also declared for the first time that the [...]

If It Moves, Tax It

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, February 20th, 2009. Filed under Economics, Individual Liberty, Politics, Privacy

That appears to be the theory behind this proposal from Barack Obama’s Transportation Secretary:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he wants to consider taxing motorists based on how many miles they drive rather than how much gasoline they burn — an idea that has angered drivers in some states where it has been [...]

About That “Abort Obama” Poster Case

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, February 20th, 2009. Filed under Barack Obama, Freedom of Speech, Individual Liberty, Legal, Politics

There’s been much discussion among the right-side of the blogosphere about this case out of Oklahoma:
OKLAHOMA CITY — A handmade anti-abortion sign in the back of an Oklahoma City man’s pickup truck prompted a traffic stop and a visit from the Secret Service.
However, a police supervisor acknowledged Thursday that confiscating the man’s sign went too [...]

This Is Your Nest Egg On Stimulus

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, February 19th, 2009. Filed under Credit Crisis, Economics, Politics

A fairly accurate demonstration of what the government has done to your nest egg:

H/T: Diana Hsieh via Twitter

Virginia Smoking Ban Passes Assembly

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, February 19th, 2009. Filed under Individual Liberty, Virginia, Virginia Politics

After many years when it seemed like it would never happen, the anti-smoking forces have finally managed a victory in Richmond:
RICHMOND, Feb. 19 — The Virginia General Assembly gave its final approval Thursday to legislation that bans smoking in most of the state’s bars and restaurants, representing a critical victory for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine [...]

Banned In Boston

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, February 19th, 2009. Filed under Business, Economics, Individual Liberty

The story of one man’s fight to earn a living:

G.M. And Chrysler’s Bankruptcy Game

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, February 19th, 2009. Filed under Auto Industry, Business, Economics, Politics

It seems there me be more than a little fear mongering coming from the sick members of the Big Three:
Businesses filing for bankruptcy need loans to work out their troubles, or face liquidation.
But General Motors and its smaller rival, Chrysler, have threatened that they will need $125 billion, in what would be the largest bankruptcy [...]

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