The Dixie Chicks recently spoke out about their views on politics. Well, not really. They talked about how much they hate George Bush. There seems to me to be a couple of disconnects in the minds of the privileged class. First they mistake rancid personal insults for speech that adds to the public discourse (a la Whoopi). And secondly they seem to believe that free speech flows out from them but not back. This is not inconsistent with the liberal campus crowd. They show up to disrupt and hurl insults at people like Secretary Rice or Newt Gingrich at campus events - thoroughly denying them free speech - and the wrap it up in the package of.....free speech.

Let's call it what it is. Embarrassing immaturity and hatred. Out of the mouth comes the overflow of the heart is a biblical proverb. Somewhat excusable in 20 year old passionate kids. Pathetic in grown women.

sharptalk

The economy's growth continues to astound. The 5.2% rate in the 1st quarter shows the power of the American economy and the results of the lower tax environment, particularly the captial gains tax environment. What that has done, essentially, is to allow people to move their investments to the best (most efficient) places, which is exactly why a capitalist economy is so much more powerful than a socialist economy. When the government decides how resources are used, efficiency is lost and wasted. The consistent tax stucture (which they just extended through 2009, I believe) also provides that flexibility and freedom for capital dollars.

That's why job creation has boomed and incomes have exploded. That will also continue to shrink the deficit despite war costs, Hurricane costs, Mexican border wall costs, Medicare drug benefit costs and simple government corruption costs (found rampant in earmarks).

Have a good day and enjoy this great country.

sharptalk

We started a new church this past week. We began with an extraordinary 160 people. We met in a dingy room in the YMCA on bent folding chairs and had the kind of excitement you would expect from a new endeavor.

I'm very hopeful about this church. Our goal will be to recreate the heart of Christ in ourselves and our children. We've all been too caught up in style and preferences in the past. But if we just teach self-sacrfice and model it for our children, we'll be fine.

sharptalk

with ballistic missles. They say they're going to fire an empty one just to show that they can.

Can anyone say that the most important issue facing us is whether or not the government received phone records that the courts ruled long ago were legal to obtain?

Iran has a nuclear reactor very close.

Syria is sponsoring terrorism.

Russia and China are conspiring with the enemy.

And the political opportunists are screaming about phone records?

Sounds like they're politics are as bad as their policy.

sharptalk

in the Wall Street Journal today. There was one yesterday, too.

They're written by Judith Miller and they are absolutely fascinating.

One of the interesting quotes if from Al Gore's foreign policy advisor during the 2000 campaign, who said that the Bush administration claims too much credit for forcing Ghadafi's dumping of his nuclear weapons program, but that the critics don't give them nearly enough credit.

It's clear when you read the article that the invasion of Iraq and the capture of Saddam and the deaths of his sons were the last straw for the dictator. He approached America and England about getting rid of the program and told the Italian president "I will do whatever they ask!".

He was afraid America would take him out next. So, while we may have shot and missed at an Iraqi WMD program, we hit the motherload with the ricochet.

And the world is much, much better off.

sharptalk