Out To Lunch...

... for the next 100 hours.

Speaker (cringe) Pelosi and Company are throwing their 100 hour bash in a new attempt at American socialism. On the promised-to-be-non-partisan-but-truly-partisan-agenda:
- ban gifts and travel from lobbyists
- reform earmarks on bills
- implement "pay-as-you-go" budgeting
- enact the rest of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations
- increase the federal minimum wage
- fund more research in the area of embryonic stem cells
- cut student loan interests in half
- repeal tax cuts on oil companise
For a party that complains about a (waning) deficit, they sure are asking to spend a lot. If Democrats truly stick to a pay-as-you-go plan, Americans can expect either a cut in military funding or an increase in taxes - or both.

John Podhoretz has and interesting piece up. I've been toying with the thought of a Lincolnian style leadership during war. That is, if your guys with stars aren't making the grade, give'em the boot. Podhoretz suggests President Bush is doing just that by giving General Casey his "You're Welcome to Leave" letter. If the 43rd is attempting to mimic the 16th, there may be other heads on the chopping block.

Macworld San Francisco is this coming Tuesday. Hopes of iTV's, iPhones, and 8-core Duo's keep geeks awake at night.

In a speech yesterday, the president asked Congress - the one who opposes his every move - to give him a Presidential Line Item Veto. Fiscally, I understand the motive. However, the act was appropriately ruled unconstitutional in 1997 and it would be used primarily as a partisan sword by the executive branch if ammended to the Constitution.

Hours after Saddam's execution, a video of the hanging was released. Leave it to the Iraqis to screw up security.

I am currently reading - and flying through - Freakonomics. Quite enjoyable.

Reading Assignments
George Will: A Real Minimum Wage
Kathleen Parker: It Worked For Carter, It Can Work For Edwards
Lawrence Kudlow: Edwards Doesn't Get It
John Keegan: A Real Troop Surge = 50K