Who you think came out on top in that exchange? I think this is what some people call a slam.

“Yesterday, four Senate Republicans — Kay Bailey Hutchison (Tex.), Trent Lott (Miss.), Conrad Burns (Mont.) and Olympia J. Snowe (Maine) – unveiled a plan to grant Amtrak $12 billion in operating funds
over six years and make available $48 billion in federally backed bonds to pay for capital improvements. ... the Bush administration, which wants to give Amtrak $900 million next year, released details of its previously announced plan to turn train service over to multi- state compacts and end operating subsidies while providing federal grants for capital improvements.” (07/31/03)

From Rational Review.

Here is a suggestion: why don’t we just privatise it outright? If it can’t stand on its own two feet, why should the taxpayer have to support it?

“Maryland’s highest court has struck down an election rule that has hindered efforts by alternative political parties to get their candidates on ballots. The Court of Appeals on Tuesday overturned the state’s requirement that minor parties first obtain 10,000 voter signatures for recognition as a party. It also struck down a requirement to submit a second nominating petition for each candidate with the signatures of 1 percent of the electorate. ... The ruling opens up the election landscape for alternative parties such as the
Green Party, Libertarian Party, Reform Party and Constitution Party.” (07/31/03)

From: Rational Review

I have to get this book. I am guessing the reaction of some will be loud, angry, and probably violent. Found via Dean, naturally. One hopes they get an English version out sharpish.

Dirigo Health is unnecessary for Maine. It seems most Maine people are perfectly capable and willing to provide for their own health care. Senators Blais (R-Kennebec) and Gilman (R-Cumberland) cosh this daft bit of socialism.

A Bates College Professor has pled guilty to selling crack cocaine. Does the college fire her sorry arse? Nope, she is still on the payroll.

I find this pretty damn funny. I mean it’s not as if living in Lewiston, Maine, is that expensive. Surely she would be perfectly comfortable on a Prof’s salary? Or was the hiring of a crack dealer part of the college’s diversity program?

John Cole is not impressed that so many Republicans wussed out on the “terrorist futures” market. No doubt Maine’s two RINO dolts didn’t have to wimp out; they were probably already against it. Colby Cosh lays into the scheme’s opponents as well.

Found via OTTH.

Jackie slams the Beeb’s defence of their tax. Found via Peter.

Today’s Scotsman features a leader contemplating life for the SNP if it continues its blinkered prattling-on about Scottish independence. Aka their answer for every problem is: “in an independent Scotland we would be able to solve this the Scottish way.” They never manage to say quite how.

The SNP don’t seem to be paying attention to the fact that Scots aren’t really that keen to go it alone. Of course, the fact that Scots are pretty much running the UK might be of some influence. I am willing to bet that the hard-core SNP types are praying that the Tories win the next election.

He would not be amused, claims his creator, John Mortimer. I think, we can assume, he would know.

Dean has interviewed the pair, as well as posting some of their funnier cartoons. Unlike many interviews posted by bloggers, Dean has produced an interesting piece.

Carnival of Vanities 45 has gone live. Dan was even decent enough to list a post of mine as the first in the his long list of entries.

Epolitix reports the following factoids.

WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY

... and reports that the new 311-million-pound Home Office HQ will lack the
space necessary to accommodate David Blunkett’s army of civil servants.

viA: ASI

The Anti-American and Antisemitic Writings of Saudi Prince Amr Muhammad Al-Faysal.

Tom Tomorrow makes an arse out of himself again, and Radley gives him what for. This time TT tries to make a funny about libertarianism and fails miserably.

PatriotPetitions.US, the nation’s leading public opinion advocate for Constitutional integrity, has embarked on a new campaign entreating the President and Congress to support meaningful tax reform legislation, including H.J. Resolution 15 to “Repeal the 16th Amendment and Abolish the Income Tax,” in accordance with Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution, and replace the current invasive income tax system with a national sales tax or flat tax.

Please join your fellow Patriots on the frontlines in defense of our liberty and national sovereignty.

The blogathon is over, but it seems that some of highest earners are never mentioned. There are some who are wondering aloud if it might be their choice of recipient. I hope Meryl & Co have made sure their chosen cause is actually getting the money!

This is an outtrage! Spread the word!

Tom Paine reports on Kosher surfing.

Re: Opt-out drafted out
Date: 29 July 2003

Sir – Your readers will be interested to hear that Britain’s much-vaunted opt-out from the euro has been excluded from the draft European Constitution.

From:
Bill Cash, Shadow Attorney-General, London SW1

Speaking of Europe, I have added Trust the People, the lovely Annunziata Rees-Mogg’s pro-referendum outfit, to the blogroll.

News that John Redwood, married for 29 years, has now fallen for former catwalk model Nikki Page should come as no great surprise. Page, who in recent years has worked as Redwood’s researcher, admitted to taking a shine to this unlikeliest of Lotharios years ago. Assisting Redwood in his failed bid for the Tory leadership in 1995, she gave the following gushing assessment: “He has wonderful legs; I think women will find him very attractive.”

Page, who recently failed to secure the Tory nomination for the London mayoralty, added: “He spoke to us and was so sensible that I dropped everything [to join him].”

Always liked Redwood. I worked on his leadership campaign as well, though I never noticed his legs. Hey some women actually find a man with brains sexy! (Though not enough, truth be told.) I always thought he should have run with the “Vulcan” tag. There are lots of people who favoured Spock over Kirk. Lots of women found him sexy, too. Wonder if Page is a Trekkie?

Update: The Vulcan is profiled in Today’s Sunday Telegraph.

“The idea that devout Muslim faith, strict adherence to shari’ah, and even Islamist politics can be compatible with libertarian ideas would have been a tough sell even before the September 11 attacks. Since then, the Islamic world and the liberal west have viewed each other with skepticism and horror. Nevertheless, the Minaret of Freedom Institute seeks to bridge the divide between the two civilizations — or rather, to show the bridge that, it says, has always been there.” (07/28/03)

Via: Rational Review

“The city is opening a full-fledged high school for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students — the first of its kind in the nation, The Post has learned. Operating for two decades as a small alternative program with just two classrooms, the new Harvey Milk HS officially opens as a stand-alone public school with 100 students in September.” (07/28/03)

Wonder how many really intelligent students will lie to get to this school. I mean why should gay students be the only ones to escape from knuckle dragging moron jocks who like to beat the shit out of them?

From: Rational Review

“The Pentagon is setting up a stock-market style system in which investors would bet on terror attacks, assassinations and other events in the Middle East. Defense officials hope to gain intelligence and useful predictions while investors who guessed right would win profits. Two Democratic senators demanded Monday the project be stopped before investors begin registering this week.” (07/28/03)

This is like the “dead-pool” where prep school mates of mine and I tried to guess the total of murders in Miami in any given day.

Via: Rational Review

Andy tells a tale of his recent trek to the Pembrokeshire coast. I know the area very well. It’s a cracking good read and don’t think there is not a libertarian morality tale there, too!

This is a rather nice letter in support of Lord Black. It is one of several published today, featuring different takes on the row.

Re: Time for a clear-out
Date: 28 July 2003

Sir – Lord Black’s is probably the most accurate description of the BBC ever published. The only way for the BBC to regain some integrity and a reputation for honesty is a total clear-out from top to bottom. Does anybody have the authority and the courage to do this?

From:
Tony Marlow, Little Bookham, Surrey

A week ago last Saturday saw George and me finally manage to survive in a game of Risk II against 6 computer opponents. Facing the likes of Napoleon and Campbell, we both managed to survive until near the end. I was able to triumph over the computer to win the game. George was crushed by Napoleon about 45 minutes before my final victory.

This would not be that important except for the fact that is has taken us 5 or 6 attempts to manage this feat. Granted, we are playing it on the hightest level, but it was still pleasing to see one of the human players win for a change. As you would expect with Risk, even though it was on computer, it took four hours to complete.

As with many Risk games, George’s fate was decided by a particularily horrid turn relatively early in the game. It was impressive that he managed to survive so long. No doubt next time we meet George will be bent on seeking his revenge on Lord Dodge and the rest.

The computer had its last laugh, however, as I was unable to see the victory parade and my statistics when the application crashed.

On a technical note, I do hope MacSoft can convince the game’s developers to come out with an OSX version of the game. Having to use Classic to run it makes it slower and less stable.

Noel Malcolm writes at length on the EU constitution and its highly political content. Of course, anyone who reads bloggers such as Iain Murray and the gang at Samizdata will not find this at all of a surprise. Once I return to Albion, I plan to pick up a copy of the document to peruse. I think I might pop down the pub and have a pint (or three) while reading this excercise in verbosity.

Rational Review reports on a bunch of bleeding-edge libertarians. One does get the feeling this club willl probably have more members in states where its warmer rather than colder. The Alaskan chapter might not attract that many members.

“Live free. Ride fast. Let it all hang out. That was the unspoken motto of the fledgling North American Nude Bikers club, whose first rally was this weekend at the Rock Haven Lodge Family Nudist Park just outside Murfreesboro, [TN], in southeast Rutherford County.” (07/27/03)

From: Rational Review

“Ask Ted Costa what the California recall movement is all about, and the recall’s original proponent argues that the swift petition drive reflects widespread public revulsion not only against its target, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, but against politics as usual in California. Mr. Costa sees ousting Mr. Davis as merely the first step in a systemic reform of this huge state’s politics. And there’s evidence for his assertion that the movement is not entirely the work of the Republican right, as many elected Democrats claim, even though one wealthy conservative congressman certainly accelerated the process.” (07/27/03)