Hunter Thompson, R.I.P.

Let me say at the outset, I am not in the least perturbed that this person took his own life. After all, it was his choice. That the act may be the only irretrievable mortal sin is not something to which he would give much credence, wouldn't you agree?

What I find repulsive is the fawning way Thompson is being dealt with by his running dogs in journalism. Some of them, like David Carr in the New York Times, try to pass themselves off as acolytes of a sort. Carr only displays his ignorance of physics in bending his own white-bread reporting style("Mr. Thompson managed to live and write his own version of the Heisenberg principle: That the observer not only changes events by his presence, but his presence also frequently surpasses the event in terms of importance.") No mention of the way his suicide might affect (forever) his grandson.

You liked Hunter Thompson? I liked Joe Pyne. Both had more style than, say, that unprincipled imp Michael Moore, and now both are gone. No big deal.

Saving Social Security

This is definitely a great discussion to have. Why? Because it demonstrates the bankruptcy of the Left. (I'll leave it at that, because I like to believe that the ideas of Liberals and Democrats have not been entirely subsumed by the Left.)

The Crisis. Am I to understand that we are to relax until it's a crisis? Would you recommend the same approach to, say, global warming? Hmmmm?

The Choice. Since Bush's approach is to allow each citizen choose his route to retirement, i.e., all government controlled (current system) or partially owned and controlled by Everyman. What reasons can you think of that mandate no personal control (and no personal ownership of the portion one may choose)? I thought you were Pro-Choice?!

The Math. Don't tangle with me on this. Not even "economists" like Paul Krugman, columnist for the New York Times. It's simple: if few choose the ownership option, not much will change. If many do, it will be reflected in the pay-as-you-go system the government uses currently.

The Vision-thing. Once again, this president is proving he's way beyond his critics in seeing into the future and boldly going where, well, you know...