Utah Gov. Huntsman: Credit where credit is due.

Jon Huntsman, the Republican governor of Utah, laid out the truest and most realistic assessment of his party's current state in a piece with the Washington Times.

Calling congressional GOP leadership "inconsequential", Gov Huntsman calls out his party's lack of principle, particularly in regards to spending, during the Bush administration and admonishes them for their hypocrisy in calling out Democrats for spending. Unlike Mark Sanford of South Carolina, Huntsman has no intention of turning away money from Washington, despite misgivings about the effects of the stimulus on government "size". The video embedded into the article is worth a watch.

Governor Huntsman gives a very refreshing take on what a real party in opposition should do, instead of pouting and behaving like a group of petulant four-year olds. The GOP needs more Huntsmans and fewer Sanfords, Boehners, McConnells, and, based on his reaction to the non-State of the Union, Jindals. Republicans, please be a party of active and creative opposition and not one of petulance and ignorance.

Conflict over Fairness Doctrine not over

Apparently Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) isn't satisfied with President Obama's non-support of the Fairness Doctrine.

Yes, I followed this from Drudge, but still, here it is.

What I find interesting is DeMint's assertion:

With the support of the new administration, now is the time for Congress to take a stand against this kind of censorship. I intend to seek a vote on this amendment next week so every senator is on record: Do you support free speech or do you want to silence voices you disagree with?

The Fairness Doctrine, in simplest description, requires broadcasters to provide two sides of an issue into a conversation broadcast. DeMint's assertion that the Fairness Doctrine would silence voices of disagreement is bollocks. To wit, the current media craze of yelling until you're red in the face to stifle your critics, à la O'Reilly's No-Spin Zone, seems to be more than effective silencing the voices of disagreement. If anything, I'd think that a fairness doctrine would help return a certain civility to the airwaves.

Senator DeMint, please tell me how giving equal time is censorship? Senator DeMint, please tell me how giving equal time is silencing voices of opposition?

-rl

UPDATE: Here is a link to DeMint's press release. Contact your local Congressional office and tell your Senator and Congressman that you oppose Senator DeMint's forced vote.

I am a winner and, darn it, people just plain like me.

Well, it might not be true that people like me, but I am this week's NPR Political Junkie's Scuttlebutton winner.

Winnar.

Tom Coburn: We're not bailing out the arts (or pastel lights!)

From TPM: What Does Tom Coburn Have Against Rotating Pastel Lights?

Buried within his amendment (note bolded emphasis):

None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, arts center, or highway beautification project, including renovation, remodeling, construction, salaries, furniture, zero-gravity chairs, big-screen televisions, beautification, rotating pastel lights, and dry heat saunas.

So while we're tossing out the economic bathwater, we'll throw out the artisitic, historic, and community babies, according to Coburn.

Look, I think we should fund, with stimulus money, those bolded objects/facilities. Why? Instead of throwing money at banks to fund loans and pay executive salaries of $500,000, why don't we give money to smaller institutions that can help revitalize smaller communities? I really don't get the dyslogic that opponents of this idea spew forth - that it's communism, Comrade Obama!

Oi.

-rl