Our Government Problem-Solvers
At election time, pols can’t help but “do something” — even if it makes matters worse.

By Thomas Sowell

We don’t look to arsonists to help put out fires but we do look to politicians to help solve financial crises that they played a major role in creating.

How did the government help create the current financial mess? Let me count the ways.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NTdkNjQyOTAyYzk2NGZiZDk5ZmNmZGRlOGFlYmQxYTE=&w=MA== 

Comment:  Sowell provides yet another clear view of national politics. How do our politicians get away with it? Primarily by hiding behind news media cover and spin. Think about it. How did the Clintons go from heroic victims to arrogant liars? Their behavior did not change, but the news media switched sides. Now Senator Obama enjoys their protection. - Jonathan

Remembering Tony Snow

Snow brought humor and vigor to the podium as President Bush’s press secretary. Photo: AP

It’s a sad Saturday morning for Washington’s extended family. Fox News reported this morning that Tony Snow, who valiantly battled a merciless colon cancer in the public eye, passed early this morning. He was 53.

Snow brought humor and vigor to the podium as President Bush’s press secretary after a career at Fox News that had made Tony one of the nation’s most famous conservatives. On White House trips, he was a red-state rock star, with throngs of admirers lining up for a handshake or an autograph.

Fox said he died at Georgetown University Hospital at about 2 a.m. He leaves his wife, Jill, their son and two daughters, ages 10 to 15. He lived in Alexandria, in a big house with a broad front porch and a tire swing in the front yard. He spoke subtly but convincingly about his Christian faith, and never accepted his status as a certified Washington insider.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11702.html

 Comment: Tony Snow and I were born within a year of each other. Like many of us (including me), he was caught-up in the late 60’s early 70’s counter culture. Most of us recovered, at least Tony Snow and I did. He said that he came to his conservatism “honestly”, after doing volunteer work in Africa, and seeing how liberal/leftist governments and policies destroyed societies, and the human spirit, in many of the countries there.

I first heard Tony Snow in the early 90’s when he would substitute for Rush Limbaugh. He really did project a lighthearted joy, and faith in his convictions, inspired by his love of humanity. Much of that came through when he dealt with reporters as Press Secretary, though in a rather staid fashion.

He will be missed. He was one of the few good guys from our generation. - Jonathan 

Friday, July 11, 2008; Page A17 On the day the Colombian military freed Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other long-held hostages, the Italian Parliament passed yet another resolution demanding her release. Europe had long ago adopted this French-Colombian politician as a cause celebre. France had made her an honorary citizen of Paris, passed numerous resolutions and held many vigils.

Unfortunately, karma does not easily cross the Atlantic. Betancourt languished for six years in cruel captivity until freed in a brilliant operation conducted by the Colombian military, intelligence agencies and special forces — an operation so well executed that the captors were overpowered without a shot being fired.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/10/AR2008071002262.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

Comment: Krauthammer gets it one hundred per cent right again! I would add the notion that there really is no such thing as “soft power”, at least no such thing existing independent of “hard power”. - Jonathan