16 Responses to “Notes from the McCain/Palin Event: 2”

1. Tom says:

   February 11, 2009 at 2:25 pm

   Remember when conservatives would have been against spending taxpayer dollars on gambling?

   Oh, right. These are NEO-conservatives. Principles are a little squishier.
2. Harry says:

   February 11, 2009 at 2:26 pm

   You know who’s really angry about this gambling smear?

   Bill Bennett
3. Dave says:

   February 11, 2009 at 2:43 pm

   Right on, Abe.

   Some people have this strange belief, perhaps beaten into them by propagandist, perhaps driven home by cultural memories of Scrooge McDuck cartoons.

   The belief is, simply, that money in a rich man’s hands goes nowhere. Apparently, only poor people spend money, even though in comparison they have so little of it.

   Money doesn’t grow on trees, we’re told. Well, guess what? No one *buries* money, either. No one sleeps with money under their mattress.

   People who make money spend it. Or, they invest it in stocks and bonds. Or, they give it to a bank for safekeeping. . . and then *the bank* gives that money to someone else, in order to create more wealth.

   Basic capitalism, folks. How hard is that to understand?

   The problem is, once you involve the government, it’s no longer an economic decision– the direction the money flows is a political decision. And political decisions, whatever their inherent benefits and evils, all share one simple flaw that will ALWAYS make them distinct from economic decisions: money steered by politicians is less efficient than money steered by the people who earned that money– or stand to make *more* money by their decisions.

   Again, basic capitalism, and the nature of economic incentives.

   People *still* argue about this stuff? Even now, in the 21st century, after how many hundreds of years of demonstration that capitalism is the easiest, most effective, and ultimately, most just way to arrange our economic lives?

   Some people never learn.
4. Chris Bolts Sr. says:

   February 11, 2009 at 3:51 pm

   So, he insults Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Las Vegas. His veep insults West Virginia. He insults the entire country in Germany. What is up with this man’s antipathy for America? Well, if you knew about his past, then you would know he hangs around a lot of people who have a deep antipathy for America.
5. Harry says:

   February 11, 2009 at 4:08 pm

   “Well, if you knew about his past, then you would know he hangs around a lot of people who have a deep antipathy for America.”

   Yes. For example, one of Obama’s closest friends in the Senate was Tom Coburn (R-Okla). That dude is always hostile to America.
6. KW says:

   February 11, 2009 at 5:38 pm

   Our mayor here in Vegas was probably not referring to gambling, as you all suppose. Las Vegas is the convention destination for every organization in America. A business or group that feels fiscally healthy enough to fly out for a great convention is a strong indicator for the economy. Convention business is down, folks. (As is gambling.) What’s the cliche? When Vegas catches a cold, America gets the flu.
7. Sully says:

   February 11, 2009 at 10:12 pm

   Don’t knock the green golf cart deal. My periodic vacations in The Villages are very nearly perfect, marred only by annoying noise of the gas powered carts that are the only sort available for rent. Things will be perfect when the golf cart rental place can set me up with a quiet electric cart.
8. John Burke says:

   February 12, 2009 at 3:39 am

   I wouldn’t go so far as to say that big banks whooping it up in Vegas is OK. After all, these guys have taken huge amounts of federal dough and should have known that this wasn’t the time for public shows of extravagance.

   What’s worrisome is that the “populist” bashing of Wall Street actually provides a distraction from scrutiny of Pelosi’s extravagant stimulus provisions for green carts and whatever else. To use the old cliche, it uses up the oxygen. It also has a way of turning Democrats into popular “heroes” for the totally no-cost whipping of Wall Street CEOs.

   It’s clear that Obama went all in for a purely political approach, despite his high-minded calls for pragmatism and bipartisanship. He may come to regret not really taking this opportunity to “turn the page” and “change Washington.” McCain and others would have joined him had they been given half a chance. No one can honestly say what the difference will be in macroeconomic impact between a stimulus bill that is $800 billion and 65% spending and one that is $700 billion and only 40% spending. But the difference in the climate in Washington is like night and day. We can now count on another four years of knife fighting, which the Democrats cannot count on winning.

   I plan to keep blogging for pragmatism, moderation and bipartisanship at:

   thepurplecenter.blogspot.com
9. wharzutility says:

   February 13, 2009 at 5:38 am

   Articles interesting and useful, This is the first comment,You may want to take the time to read my article about Travel to Las Vegas or All Inclusive Travel

   Thanks…
10. Jesus says:

    March 25, 2009 at 5:08 am

    Is it best to charge an Electric Golf Cart all day?