Dean Must Be Stopped

From The Washington Post:

One multilateral institution that might not fare so well in a Dean administration, though, is the World Trade Organization. In what would be a radical departure, China and other countries could get trade deals with the United States only if they adopted “the same labor laws and labor standards and environmental standards” as the United States. Whether or not that demand was consistent with WTO rules? “That’s right.” With no concession to their relative level of development? “Why should there be? They have the right to have a middle class same as everyone else.”

Dean says, “We’ve tried it” — NAFTA, WTO — “for 10 years, and has it succeeded? No. . . . What’s the purpose of trade? If it’s to create jobs, we haven’t done that in America.”

No serious candidate can have such wrongheaded ideas about trade. This is the problem that those of us with a knowledge of and interest in trade face every day…fools not understanding margins. On top of that, he misunderstands the purpose of trade (to increase total surplus, not generate jobs) and cannot seem to grasp basic concepts in developmental economics. Vote Howard Dean, have America on the road to European-style success in no time.

Maybe California’s Porn King will win the recall election after all.

GUNS!

Alphecca does a gun-bias survey every week. This week’s has some particularly interesting stuff. (Yes, I know this was on Instapundit a while ago).

California Crazies

Tom Hanks doesn’t want Arnold to be CA guv, and neither does Woody Harrelson, whose representative said:

Woody is diametrically opposed to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s political positions … He does not support the candidacy.

How can a liberal be “diametrically” opposed to a pro-choice, gun-controlling, pro-gay marriage candidate? Does this mean Harrelson is hiding a pro-life stance or wishes all types of guns were available to all types of Californians? Probably not, but the rhetoric used down there is going well past absurd. Which leads us to Cybil Sheppard on a Schwarzenneger win:

That would be the worst tragedy in the history of California.

You have to be seriously off your fucking rocker to say something like that. It’s interesting that Tom Vs. The Volcano Hanks would let himself be grouped in with people with no sense of history at all. Politics just brings out the best in people, I suppose.

I’m Out

Yes, Virginia, I am departing for Texas for a few days. By “a few” I mean 12. The new issue is done, I sent it to the printer yesterday, should be back by early next week and online shortly. Before I head off to the wild world of tasty barbeque, awesome Mexican food, and more fried catfish than you can shake a bottle of tabasco at, I think you should all ponder the meaning of this.

The new rankings are in — welcome to mediocrity college

The Princeton Review has just released their latest rankings of Colleges. From the “Reefer Maddness” category to “Dorms Like Dungeons,” The University of Oregon has made it’s mark, and it’s the same damn thing again. Here are the categories and ranks the University appeared in:

#13 “Reefer Madness”

#16 “Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians”

I would have figured the U of O could be a little more extreme, but what do these rankings tell me? The U of O is filled with yuppie, idealistic pseudo-rebels, who like dorms that are easy to hotbox.

“Thus Ends The Completely Gratuitous Reference To The O.C.“

The gimlet-eyed fame professionals over at Fametracker have turned their attention to the California gubernatorial shambles.

Bill‘s rolling coverage merits many an admiring gesture, too. However, a paucity of completely gratuitous references to The O.C. relegates him to this second paragraph. Let that be a lesson to you, Beutler!

Hey, Where Is The Emerald On This?

Onetime Emerald writer Brooke Adams is running for governor of California.

Who knew? A quick search reveals: not the Emerald.

This One’s For Olly

Hmmm.

Via AtlanticBlog.

Local HS makes the Onion

It’s worth a blog.

I come to visit you folks, but you are never around. Oh well, I guess I’ll be around once school starts up again.

Tuesday Morning Quarterback, Only A Day Late

Usually Pete would be the one posting this, but he’s off doing his Backdraft bit. Anyway, in case you haven’t seen, Gregg Easterbrook is back for the new season, still in touch with the football gods.

Man With 2.75 GPA Denounces Academic Elitism

There are hundreds if not thousands of out-of-state and international student [sic] on the campus who are NOT Oregonians… Is the intention of such policy to make the University for the people of this state, or is the University becoming the University of California at Oregon, or the University of Asia, Oregon campus?

Leaving aside that jaw-droppingly classy “University of Asia” comment, I am grateful to Bret for pointing out that this future asset to the space program has managed to misread the admissions policy that he thinks he’s objecting to. (The phrase to look for is “guaranteed admission”; see also this.) If he was a transfer student, it wouldn’t have applied to him anyway, but never mind.

And what are we to institute in place of nasty old academic standards? A “first come, first served” system. Excelsior!

The scholarly lessons, social intelligence and negotiation skills I learned at the University are very powerful, and they will help me immensely in the future.

The social intelligence on display here is palpable, folks, it really is.

Private Parts

Read this, from NRO about privitizing the Beeb. And, read this from the Summer 2003 City Journal.

Now, With Karate Chop Action!

Ever wanted your very own President of the United States? Now you can own one! WARNING contains small parts and may not be suitable for children under 14.

Almost Scooped Drudge…damn him….

Arnold Schwarzenegger says during taping of ‘Tonight Show’ he will run for governor in California recall election! Take that Ted Kennedy. I think this is the coolest thing ever.