Anastasia Baburova, Stanislav Markelov, R.I.P.

Another Russian journalist, this time a mere 25-year old "cub" reporter, Anastasia Baburova, is murdered by a masked gunman just blocks from the Kremlin, as is human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov.

Another Long Island Sentinel Contribution

Another modest contribution today to the Long Island Sentinel, this time about signs of weakness in the Obama presidency.

Let the Overreach Begin

Prior to Barack Obama's inauguration, a number of pundits predicted that Obama would need to triangulate to some degree away from his Democratic colleagues in the Congress, lest they overreach and cause the chief executive to waste valuable political capital, as happened in the early days of the Clinton presidency.

As this trenchant political analysis by my old colleague Larry Kudlow demonstrates, Mr. Obama has indeed allowed himself to become identified with a Democratic House pork-barrel bill -- usually the ordinary disgraceful business of Congress -- masquerading today as emergency "stimulus."

As Kudlow notes, criticism is now coming from all sides, including former Clinton budget honcho Alice Rivlin.

One wonders if Obama will now try a charm offensive to put lipstick on this pig, or cut his losses. Either way, this is no First 100 Days FDR for sure.

Today's Contribution to Long Island Sentinel

I have made a modest contribution to the Long Island Sentinel today. A little something about the too-important-to-prosecute-for-tax-evasion Treasury Secretary designate, Timothy Geithner.

Stimulus Plan Pork Justifies Cynicism about Obama

The change we've been waiting for continues. Great story today on the SF Chronicle web site with some of the details of the so-called Obama stimulus plan.

Included are the same kind of pork-barrel projects we see in "normal" times in Washington. Yet, this is supposed to be an emergency, and the kind of situation that requires immediate action. To do what, renovate malls? Give me a break.

I think it's all clear to be cynical about Obama, even for the Obama zombies. It took us, what, all of a few weeks?

Long Island Sentinel Launches

Congratulations to my good friend and always entrepreneur Ray Keating, on the recent launch of the Long Island Sentinel, a much needed alternative voice on Long Island for free markets and less government here, and across the country.

The web-based publication is producing new content seven days a week, on the model of a daily newspaper. It also features cultural and sports commentary as well.

I will be participating to some degree in this new venture, with an occasional contribution about this and that. An honor and a privilege.

NSA Spying Story Disturbing

A disturbing story is bubbling up in the recent days about the National Security Agency (NSA) allegedly spying without warrant on American citizens.

Keith Olbermann is not my favorite guy, but I have to say that tonight I sat riveted by the program Countdown as he reported on allegations that the NSA illegally obtained information about ordinary Americans, particularly journalists.

This may be another example of how, as I mentioned earlier, speed limits in our laws get pushed. Give the government the power to spy on foreign nationals in the U.S. (who do not enjoy the same constitutional protections) and you run the risk that gung-ho security types will abuse that power.

I'm going to be waiting and watching on this one, especially when the whistleblower, Russell Tice (seen in the video below), and others in the security business go before Congress to tell what they know.

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