Gordon Taylor had it wrong the other day in his post about the economic meltdown. He was much too charitable when he ascibed the proximate cause of the destruction anything as simple as mathematical incompetence.

The problem wasn’t just funny math and exotic instruments and a conman atmosphere, it was also the steady flow of methamphetamine at Washington Mutual. Apparently the drugs were great!

“I’d lie if I said every piece of documentation was properly signed and dated,” said Parsons, speaking through wire-reinforced glass at a California prison near here, where he is serving 16 months for theft after his fourth arrest – all involving drugs.

While Parsons, whose incarceration is not related to his work for WaMu, oversaw a team screening mortgage applications, he was snorting methamphetamine daily, he said.

“In our world, it was tolerated,” said Sherri Zaback, who worked for Parsons and recalls seeing drug paraphernalia on his desk. “Everybody said, ‘He gets the job done.”‘

The entire world is now paying for these people’s drug habits.

And then I almost forgot about this…

is an Andrew Jackson bio I’m currently reading, which deals chiefly with his presidency. I’m up to chapter 5.

If you think today’s campaigns are foul, check out the Adams vs. Jackson of 1828. for political animosity, see Jackson vs. Clay. For inter-party snubs & maneuvering, see Jackson & Calhoun.

In reading this book, I am reminded of an essay by Michael Barone earlier this year. He spoke about the absence of Jacksonian Democrats in today’s politics, men in the more modern era such as “Scoop” Jackson & Zell Miller. Conservative Democrats, in other words; who believed in a strong national defense and a small central government (for starters). On some level, I believe the ‘Conservative’ part is more important than the party label. I have to believe there are many Democrats who feel the same way. In the words of Zell Miller, “I didn’t leave the party, the party left me.” As we rebuild the Republican Party to more firmly adhere to Conservative values, reaching out to these disaffected Democrats will yield benefits. Back in the late 80′s & early 90′s (if I have my chronology correct) we gained many Democrats who changed parties. Let us examine the principles we based the party on then and template that for today. In the wreckage the Liberal agenda (of both the Democrats & Moderate Republicans) threatens to make of our economy and national defense, there should be plenty of disaffection to go around.

On another historical note, at a flea market the other day, I picked up a 1940 issue of Time Magazine. The D & Rs have swapped some stands on tariffs & free trade since then, but some things are still the same. Hull was the most conservative of FDR’s cabinet, and was a adamant supporter of free trade – his quotes on the subject (and the economy) would serve us well today The Republicans of the day were advocates of high tariffs, which we now know (well, most of us) hurt US exports. See Thomas Sowell if you don’t believe me, but I digress. Funny how Hull explained how free trade helped the average guy, while Democrats turn it around and maintains the opposite is true today.

Alas, Sec Hull was also responsible for actions we would recognize in Democrats of today. While a member of the TN state legislature early in his career, he managed to get over 20,000 votes thrown out to toss the election to the Democratic candidate for governor. As a member of the US Congress, he was author of the bill that got us the income tax in 1913.

He was a very effective Sec State, though, who worked on trade agreements that eased the economic problems of the day and forged defensive alliances which prepared the country for the war soon to come.

And neither he nor his colleagues acknowledge that a democracy can itself be as tyrannical as a dictatorship, since it is the extent, not the source, of government power that impinges on freedom

This is from God and Man at Yale, in the chapter entitled “Individualism at Yale”, specifically in response to theories about government intervention in the free market.. I find this quote to be very appropriate right now. The RNC should study this quote. Conservatives should memorize this quote. This quote would do quite a bit to bring in libertarians and independents.

Enumerated rights, State rights, individual rights, all of these start with the understanding that government and freedom are, in nature, at odds with each other. Some how we, the GOP, have grown all too comfortable with government and the influence that comes along with it. I hope for the sake of our country, heck for the sake of freedom in our world, that the GOP will soon return to the idea of limited government, enumerated rights, states rights, and individual rights.

a comment to see if my html learning is actually sinking in my brain, or if I am totally lost…everyone please ignore me!!!

A sincere thank you to “my” Miami Dolphins for keeping the faith all your fans have had for decades.

Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Parcells, Mr. Ireland, Coach Sparano, coaching staff, players, trainers, equipment, logistics staff and everyone in the office…….. GOOD ON YA !!!!!!!!!!!!!

From a 1-15 season to this year’s 11-5 and the AFC Eastern Division title……. YEEEEEE HAAAAAAA !!!!!!!!

See y’all Sunday at Joe Robbie !!!!!

Git-R-Done !

IowaHawk make very goodly writingness.

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/12/senora-kennedy-is-make-very-good-senator.html

“Buenos dias! I am Rosa. I twelve years work for Senora Caroline Kennedy and her family so I am write for you today to tell you why Senora Kennedy is make very very good senator for Nueva York.”

I offer that The Good Sir IowaHawk is the snarkiest snark who ever snarked a snark !

Cheers !

It’s time for my obligatory beating a dead horse post…

“Mike Duncan is an Idiot”

25 days on the Rec list and counting

Sorry mbecker

I know you’ll get to it…but lest you forget

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in Washington—Fred Thompson

It seems to be gone now, but a UK news site gives Algore and his Church of AGW a spanking: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/3982101/2008-was-the-year-man-made-global-warming-was-disproved.html