The Volokh Conspiracy » “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Meta”

The Volokh Conspiracy » “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Meta”: "Cuellar de Osorio v. Mayorkas (9th Cir. Sept. 26, 2012) (en banc) (Smith, Milan, dissenting) notes a circuit split about the significance of circuit splits:"

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The Corner - National Review Online

The Corner - National Review Online: "An Obama campaign spokesperson, however, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed skepticism that Romney was pulling only 26 percent of the vote. “No doubt the race is much tighter. Our internal polling shows that there are a lot more racists in this country, so Romney’s probably closer to 35–36 percent. We urge our supporters to stay energized.”"

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Instapundit

Instapundit: "et a fancy degree and a high income are not the objects of existence. Happiness surveys going back four decades consistently show women growing less happy with their lives as the economic numbers continue to tick relentlessly higher. . . . Rosin is puzzled to discover that MBAs with rich husbands are increasingly opting to become stay-at-home moms. These fortunate few can do anything, and they choose to dial their lives back to a modified Eisenhower era."

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Wolf shirt review

Unfortunately I already had this exact picture tattooed on my chest, but this shirt is very useful in colder weather.

Another Comment

Here. Returning the favor.

When it comes to the size of government neither party has a good track record. On the other hand, I haven't quite bought into the argument that it doesn't matter much who is elected. Certainly it matters on the margins correct? It seems like improving things on the margins is the best small-government types can hope for, at least in the short run. I think Romney will be, although not ideal, a definite improvement. For example, I doubt under a President Romney we will get another 800 billion dollar stimulus bill.
Additionally, politicians deserve blame for many things, but is it really Republicans' fault that their policy failings are blamed on the free market? On average, I would say Republicans themselves don't usually blame the markets. It seems to me like we should should fault the opinion makers who blame the markets, not the Republicans who, while not always principled free-market supporters, are more free-market oriented than the alternative. This is an area where it seems to me like Libertarians allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good.

Amazon.com: Profile For J. A. KONRATH: Reviews

Amazon.com: Profile For J. A. KONRATH: Reviews: "I'm disappointed by all the negative reviews this product is getting. Maybe you folks should stick to cutting wood for real, rather than bothering with a simulation that doesn't meet up to your lofty, woodcutting standards.

Me? I have an active lifestyle, and often I can't fit in all the real woodcutting I'd like. Often I don't have time to spend a relaxing day hacking away at an endangered redwood, or taking a pickeroon to my neighbor's oak three while she's at the store buying litter for her damn cats."

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The Volokh Conspiracy » New Obamacare Challenge: The Origination Clause

The Volokh Conspiracy » New Obamacare Challenge: The Origination Clause: "The Origination Clause requires “all bills for raising revenue” to “originate” in the House of Representatives. But the Obama Administration’s health care law did not originate in the House; it originated in the Senate, when Senator Harry Reid “amended” a bill the House had passed by striking out all of its text and replacing it with the Senate-written bill that eventually became Obamacare. At that time, Congress claimed that the bill wasnot a tax—and indeed, the Obama Administration continues to insist that it is not a tax—but this summer the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision ruling that while Congress had no power to force people to buy health insurance, it did have power to tax them for not buying insurance. The justices did not address the question of whether such a “tax” was constitutional under the Origination Clause, because none of the lawyers raised that issue—until now."

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Stephens: Muslims, Mormons and Liberals - WSJ.com

Stephens: Muslims, Mormons and Liberals - WSJ.com: "And, finally, this: That the most "progressive" administration in recent U.S. history will make no principled defense of free speech to a Muslim world that could stand hearing such a defense. After the debut of "The Book of Mormon" musical, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded with this statement: "The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ.""

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The Corner - National Review Online

The Corner - National Review Online: "You know The Book of Mormon — not the actual book, but the Broadway show. It mocks the Mormons and their religion every which way. Including in vulgar, sexual, and blasphemous ways. It is, of course, a monster hit. It has raked in millions of dollars, nine Tony awards, and legions of fans. They have laughed their backsides off. Attending last year was our secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.

And when that schlub of a videomaker in California was rude to Islam, what did Secretary Clinton say? “Disgusting and reprehensible.” The guy was also carted off by a posse of lawmen at midnight."

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The Corner - National Review Online

The Corner - National Review Online: "For example, the Egyptian president demands the arrest of an obscure American who made an unseen film. And whaddayaknow? Next thing that happens, back in the land of the free, a large posse of heavily armed officers descends on his apartment at midnight so that he can be “voluntarily” taken into custody for alleged “probation violations” — because, as everyone knows, in civilized societies breach-of-probation orders are always served at midnight on a weekend when the dark is so much more conducive to persuading householders to “volunteer.”"

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Instapundit » Blog Archive » WHY BARACK OBAMA SHOULD RESIGN. Just for the record, this is what it looked like for a man who made…

Instapundit » Blog Archive » WHY BARACK OBAMA SHOULD RESIGN. Just for the record, this is what it looked like for a man who made…: "When taking office, the President does not swear to create jobs. He does not swear to “grow the economy.” He does not swear to institute “fairness.” The only oath the President takes is this one:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

By sending — literally — brownshirted enforcers to engage in — literally — a midnight knock at the door of a man for the non-crime of embarrassing the President of the United States and his administration, President Obama violated that oath. You can try to pretty this up (It’s just about possible probation violations! Sure.), or make excuses or draw distinctions, but that’s what’s happened. It is a betrayal of his duties as President, and a disgrace."

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Instapundit

Instapundit: "THIS SEEMS LIKE A SMART IDEA: Parents offered childcare to make time for sex.

Danish nursery workers are offering free childcare – so busy parents can find the time to make more babies.

They have promised two hours’ free childcare on Thursday evening, so parents can go to bed, reports the BBC.

Dorte Nyman, of the Grasshoppers kindergarten in North Fyn, said the country’s low birthrate was threatening the future of local nurseries.

She expected nearly half of the nursery’s families to accept the offer."

But what do they do with the other hour and fifty minutes?

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The Corner - National Review Online

The Corner - National Review Online: "Indeed, much of the political press seems to have decided that their job is to explain why Romney shouldn’t be president. In an effort to master self-parody, Chris Matthews now believes it was “arrogant” for Romney to even run against Obama in the first place."

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The Volokh Conspiracy

The Volokh Conspiracy: "The Pacific Legal Foundation has filed a motion in its pending suit against Obamacare asking the judge (1) to rule that, when it enacted the Senate health care reform bill that includes a “tax” for not purchasing health insurance, Congress violated the Origination Clause, which says that all revenue bills must originate in the House; and (2) that their clients are under no legal obligation to purchase health insurance under the ruling of the Court."

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Five reasons the Google Nexus 7 beats the Kindle Fire HD | Computerworld Blogs

Five reasons the Google Nexus 7 beats the Kindle Fire HD | Computerworld Blogs: "Amazon has called its new Kindle Fire HD "The best tablet at any price." But that's far from the truth. Here are five reasons the Google Nexus 7 beats the Kindle Fire HD."

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That makes me feel better that I didn't wait.

Althouse: "Married registered voters prefer Republican challenger Mitt Romney over Democratic President Barack Obama by 54% to 39%..."

Althouse: "Married registered voters prefer Republican challenger Mitt Romney over Democratic President Barack Obama by 54% to 39%...": "On the other hand, nonmarried voters break strongly for the president over Romney, 56% to 35%. Marriage is a significant predictor of presidential vote choice even after income, age, race, gender, education, religiosity, region, and having minor children are statistically controlled for."

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Exactly why more people need to get married.

Ace of Spades, NRO destroy ‘real journalists’ covering for Obama at Romney foreign policy presser | Twitchy

Ace of Spades, NRO destroy ‘real journalists’ covering for Obama at Romney foreign policy presser | Twitchy: "These attacks could have been prevented if Romney had just given those terrorists cancer."

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Did Sheryl Crow’s Cell Phone Give Her A Brain Tumor? We Break Down The Science « K 104.7 FM

Did Sheryl Crow’s Cell Phone Give Her A Brain Tumor? We Break Down The Science « K 104.7 FM: "“I do have the theory that it’s possible that’s it’s related to that,” she said. “I used to spend hours on the old archaic cell phones.”

She also admitted that there were no doctors who would confirm her suspicions even though she felt she had adequate reasons to back up her claims, explaining that her tumor was in the part of her brain where she often held her phone."

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Aren't she and Laurie David two of the lead spokespersons for global warming?

Thomas Szasz - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas Szasz - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "As Szasz said, having become convinced of the fictitious character of mental disorders, the frequent injuriousness of psychiatric treatments, the immorality of psychiatric coercions and excuses, he set himself a task to delegitimize the legitimating agencies and authorities and their vast powers, enforced by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, mental health laws, mental health courts, and mental health sentences."

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Althouse

Althouse: "10:26: The Cardinal wanders out to the lectern. He's got his benediction written out on folded sheets of paper. "Help us to see that a society's greatness is found, above all, in the respect it shows for the weakest and neediest among us." He thanks God for giving us those "inalienable rights — life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." He thanks God for "the gift of life" and asks that we be given "the courage to defend it." In subtle defiance of the convention's abortion-rights theme, he says: "We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected"

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Cafe Hayek — where orders emerge

Cafe Hayek — where orders emerge: " Here’s Thomas Paine: “Almost everything appertaining to the circumstances of a nation, has been absorbed and confounded under the general and mysterious word government.  Though it avoids taking to its account the errors it commits, and the mischiefs it occasions, it fails not to arrogate to itself whatever has the appearance of prosperity.  It robs industry of its honours, by pedantically making itself the cause of its effects; and purloins from the general character of man, the merits that appertain to him as a social being.”*"

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The Corner - National Review Online

The Corner - National Review Online: "I believe it says something creepy about America that she is famous — famous and adored. (She is pretty, true.) Her shtick is, “Other people should pay for my birth control, even if it violates their conscience,” right? What a strange Joan of Arc she makes."

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Instapundit

Instapundit: ""Government" is just a word for things we do together. "Corporation" is just a word for things we do together voluntarily."

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The Party of Ted Kennedy, Now and Forever - By Jim Geraghty - The Campaign Spot - National Review Online

The Party of Ted Kennedy, Now and Forever - By Jim Geraghty - The Campaign Spot - National Review Online: "Guy Benson: “Dems: Romney killed a woman! (False). Dems: We love this guy who actually killed a woman! (True).”

Erick Erickson: “Democrats tonight: ‘FORWARD!! IN REVERSE!! OFF THE BRIDGE!! Let’s get William Kennedy Smith to do a live shot. Of liquor.’”

Andrea Chapman: “Apparently the right ‘NOT to be raped’ or the right ‘NOT to drown’ aren’t protected by @TheDemocrats.”

La Jolla Princess: “So the DNC really gets into gear lionizing the involuntary manslaughter hero of Massachusetts. That’s just about right.”

MitreBox: “The DNC cares about women, that can swim.”

John McCormick: “Shouldn’t Democrats have to choose between the ‘war on women’ theme and adoring a man who killed a woman?”

To quote a Dennis Miller classic, “Ted Kennedy is the distilled essence of the Democratic party. Operative word there being ‘distilled.’”"

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The Corner - National Review Online

The Corner - National Review Online: "jimgeraghty Wait, Democratic conventioneers vocally rejected God THREE times? Were silver pieces involved?"

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Jerusalem And God Get Booed At Dem Convention | RealClearPolitics

Jerusalem And God Get Booed At Dem Convention | RealClearPolitics: "Delegates and members of the Democratic party booed after former Gov. Ted Strickland (D-OH) discussed God and moved to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Convention chairman Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles, had to ask for the Yea and Nay vote several times before declaring the motion passed.

C-SPAN cameras captured the dissatisfaction among members after the motion passed."

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EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty

EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty: "My question: What is supposed to make discrimination so tempting?  For adultery, we've got a crisp evolutionary story: Cheating on your spouse without getting caught has a massive genetic payoff.  I just don't see how discrimination is remotely comparable.  How many people really enjoy inflicting unmerited suffering?  I can easily believe that people enjoy discriminating when everyone else is doing it; people are sheep, after all.  But once discrimination is publicly unacceptable, our evolved desire for conformity ought to push in the opposite direction.

My favorite explanation: what popular culture impugns as "hate" is, by and large, merely misunderstood statistical discrimination.  Firms are tempted to discriminate because stereotypes save time and money.  If you don't buy this story, though, I'd like to hear your alternative.  If discrimination isn't lucrative, why are employers continuously tempted to break the law?"

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The Volokh Conspiracy » A Question for Our Irreligious Readers

The Volokh Conspiracy » A Question for Our Irreligious Readers: "I basically assume that I am an animal on the earth like any other and will be dead one day and that I want the rest of my days to be basically happy. I find that I can live with myself if I act by what you'd call my moral axiom - which I leave mostly unanalyzed but would characterize as something like "try to reduce the amount of suffering in the world" - better than if I didn't. I find it easy to imagine the suffering of other creatures and it makes me sad to do so; it makes me very sad when that suffering is caused by me. Also when people mistreat me I find it enjoyable to get into high dudgeon about it, and I find it harder to do so when I know that I act the same way that they do."

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EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty

EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty: "My main critique is that Gordon is way too certain of his conclusion. His big argument--not the one about the six headwinds--is as follows:
[T]he central theme of this article is that innovation does not have the same potential to create growth in the future as in the past.

Again, I emphasize that I don't want to say that he's wrong--he could well be right. But I don't think his degree of certainty is justified. By the very nature of innovation, we don't know what it will be."

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The Corner - National Review Online

The Corner - National Review Online: "After GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s rousing and effective convention acceptance speech last night, I found myself snapping my fingers as the GOP convention’s band in Tampa played that old hit, “Living in America.” Suddenly, it dawned on me: Team Romney might be transmitting racial messages.

I consulted my copy of the definitive reference on this topic, A Black Man’s Guide to Whitey’s Racial Code, by Jesse Jackson and Kanye West (Sharpton Books, 2010). I flipped past the highly apologetic introduction by Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D., Fla.). Just as I suspected, page 178 confirmed that “Living in America” was a Billboard Top 4 song by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. This, as Jackson and West teach us, is a subtle message designed to remind Caucasians that President Obama has brown skin. Also, the song was written by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight. It doesn’t get any darker than midnight."

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George F. Will: Liberalism, as we know it - The Washington Post

George F. Will: Liberalism, as we know it - The Washington Post: "And in Pueblo this summer, Obama announced what should be a disqualifying aspiration.

After a delusional proclamation — General Motors “has come roaring back” — Obama said: “Now I want to do the same thing with manufacturing jobs, not just in the auto industry, but in every industry.” We have been warned."

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WHAT!?!