AlchemyToday

Derbeshire approvingly posts this e-mail at the Corner, writing, “For sure, decade by decade, universal adult suffrage is looking like a worse and worse idea.”

From Radio Derb:  “‘No taxation without representation!’ The Tea Party protestors of our time don’t have that cry available to them. We do have representation. The destruction of freedom and prosperity is proceeding with the full support of our elected representatives in Congress, under the leadership of a President easily elected by a majority of voters.”

Methinks an appropriate cry today might be “No representation without taxation.” That would eliminate over 40 percent of the electorate, leaving the productive 60 percent in charge.

Sorry, the 24th amendment beat you to the punch.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

Eliminating property requirements with the 24th amendment was an “idea” only in the sense that it was a way to eliminate end-arounds of the 15th amendment by racists.

Then again, I didn’t know how the truck I saw with the Obama for Change sticker made it out of town, either.

The only tragic thing about these protests for me is that I’m now hedging on whether I’m going to raise a Join or Die flag out my window and make someone get the wrong message.  You’d think that Join or Die is antithetical to the Tea Party protests, but apparently that doesn’t matter.

h/t The Daily Record

But apparently that wasn’t a fair sample?

h/t Not Larry Sabato

What does it say about America that the night-vision footage of a navy seal raid rescuing this captain will be the biggest boost for Obama’s approval rating out of everything accomplished in the first hundred days?

Just made spätzle dough only to realize that I had nothing even remotely resembling a spätzle press (had assumed my colander would work; holes were way too small).  After a bit of futility trying to squeeze the dough into very small pieces, I gave up and tore it off by hand (not easy with sticky dough) and made bits of boiled dough that were something of a cross between spätzle and superballs.  Fried up in oil and butter and then added blanched brussel sprouts.  A bit chewy, but not bad — I definitely see the appeal of spätzle, but need to acquire better tools before trying again.  Also pictured, tofu w/ garbanzo, spring onion, and garlic.

Today:

While the public clamors for an end to TARP, and while commercial banks of all sizes are trying to pay back their TARP money, the Treasury Department is now proposing to extend bailout funds to life-insurance companies, most of which are really in no danger of failing.

September 2008:

Why should a successful bank — whether large, medium, or small — give up ownership and allow pay-caps for executives?

Even the big guys like BofA and JPMorgan Chase are still solid banks. So is Goldman and Morgan Stanley. And Wells Fargo. And many others.

Bank of American Corporation (BAC)

No clue whether bailing out life insurance is a good idea or not.  Not having the slightest idea about how these things work, my preference would be to provide capital to limp where it’s cost effective and let them fail otherwise, but there’s no reason to take Kudlow at his word that these insurers aren’t hanging by a thread.

From the Cherry Blossom 10 miler on Sunday

My endorsement for champion of NCAA hoops:

I believe I am finally over hating State out of my love for UMich; also, it’s somewhat unfair that Danny Green has made every three point shot except for one that I’ve seen him take in the tournament.  Looking at his stats, he’s actually right around his 41.5% season average, so it must just be good luck (for him) when I watch.