Random Thoughts on the Summer, Part II

…. Since MSNBC is down in ratings, they ought to sell a little book called MSNBC Mad Libs. Then have viewers fill them out and send them in for MSNBC anchors to read live on air. Sample: President Obama’s new energy proposal is (awesome/brilliant/Lincolnesque). It will help create (5 million, 5 billion, 5 trillion) new green jobs. It is paid for through taxes on the (evil/Hitlerian/child-molesting) oil companies. Unfortunately, Republicans are being (obstructionist/racist/poo-poo heads) and holding up the legislation. Then, since the mad libs will be indistinguishable from what is actually said on MSNBC, have viewers try to guess which one is the mad lib…

… I know, I know, you can often flip the game and play it during Hannity on Fox News, too…

…Perhaps the worst aspect of media bias in this country has to do with how reporters and newscasters assign motive. All too typically, a Republican will be cast as having some alterior or nepharious motive while the Democrat’s motive is pure. Case in point is the immigration debate where Democrat’s want “comprehensive immigration reform” out of good-heartedness and a sense of social justice, not because they want to add a huge new block of Democrat voters. Meanwhile, Republicans oppose such efforts out of xenophobia and mean-spiritedness, not because they want existing laws enforced and a better more organized way of keeping track of who enters the country…

… Candidates are often said to be judged on whether voters would want to have a beer with them or not. The more I think about it, the less I would want to have a beer with President Obama. He’d talk too much and try to be an expert on everything. And nobody wants to have a beer with that guy… 

… That sect of people on the right known as “birthers” who think President Obama was secretly born in Kenya remind me of those parents and coaches in Little League who require kids to wear those ridiculous, big helmets with the facemasks on them—just because they go way too far doesn’t make their underlying principle wrong. In the case of Little League, it is completely unnecessary and silly for parents and coaches to require the stupid facemask helmets, but their underlying concern for their kids’ safety is completely right and good. The notion that President Obama was born in Kenya is wrong, unhelpful, and a little batty, but the underlying principle that he is unfit to be president is completely accurate…

… I don’t know, but the whole LeBron James saga didn’t stir my passions one way or another. But for those who criticize LeBron’s decision here’s a little thought exercise: You are a top 5 person in the nation in your field. You are offered the chance to team up with your close friend who is also top 5 in your field and work together, in South Beach with no state income tax while single and in your twenties. Is anyone turning that down? Seriously?...

… I believe there are very few political writers who are worth reading every time that they write.  For me, that list includes Charles Krauthammer, Jonah Goldberg, and Mark Steyn. Quickly moving towards that list is NY Times conservative columnist Ross Douthat…

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