More news on the federal government in your pants. A video from CNN. Another video, “the TSA is out of control.” From Facebook, National opt-out of porno-scanner day Where there’s an opportunity, there’s an entrepreneur: Flying pasties. The Orlando Airport is kicking out the TSA. Sort of–the TSA still sets the rules. ReasonTV on how we all now fly on “Con Air.” A note from a friend: “Just praying […]
John LaPlante
About John LaPlante
Posts by John LaPlante:
U.S. transportation chief: We’ll disable your cell phones
Proof that the condition known as being a control freak knows no partisan boundaries, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood (former Republican member of Congress) says “There’s a lot of technology out there now that can disable phones [in cars] and we’re looking at that.” The target, of course, is “distracted driving,” which in its serious form is already illegal. No word yet on whether LaHood […]
The Daily Grope: Body searches for toddlers
A U.S. Army sergeant heading back to Afghanistan writes about the new TSA groping protocol. Afghan citizens get more respectful treatment from the U.S. Army than U.S. citizens get from the TSA. The title of the article in which is comments appear: Body searching children: No for the US Army, Yes for the TSA.” He adds, “it seems as if the bureaucracy has become so obsessed […]
Congress in session? Sell now!
I love seeing human ingenuity in action. Here’s the latest example I’ve come across: Congressional Effect Management is an investment company with a distinct guiding principle: When Congress is in session, the stock market goes down; when it’s not in session, the market goes up. The company says it has empirical proof of that principle, which guides its mutual fund. In theory it sounds like a great […]
Upton the Bulb Banner
Fred Upton, the Republican responsible for setting in place the impending ban on the incandescent light bulb, is getting more attention, this time from Politico, which notes that his rival for the chairmanship of the House committee with jurisdiction over energy policy is hoping to score some political points. Politico says that Upton, who hails from Michigan’s Sixth district (Kalamazoo/Benton Harbor) has defended the ban, saying […]
Close Calls in the Minnesota Senate
If you’re a state senator who got less than 52 percent of the vote, you’re part of the vulnerable 8. Of those, 6 are Republicans, and 2 are Democrats. Republicans with less than 52 percent of the vote: Paul Gazelka SD12 John Pederson SD15 Jeremy Miller SD31 Ted Daley SD38 Don Hall SD40 Ted Lillie SD56 Democrats getting less than 52 percent of the vote: Terri […]
Close Calls In The Minnesota House
Of the 134 seats that were up for grabs in the Minnesota House, 10 were won by candidates who received less than 52 percent of the vote. Of those, 8 were Republicans, while 2 were Democrats. Republicans who just got by: Debra Kiel, 1B Carolyn McElfatrick, 3B King Banaian, 15B Glenn Gruenhagen, 25A Kelby Woodard, 25B Rich Murray, 27A Branden Petersen, 49B Kathy Lohmer, 56A […]
The Daily Grope: Abolish the TSA
Art Carden offers a way to improve security, the federal budget, and improve government treatment of citizens at the same time: abolish the TSA “For fiscal conservatives, it’s hard to come up with a more wasteful agency than the TSA. For privacy advocates, eliminating an organization that requires you to choose between a nude body scan or genital groping in order to board a plane should […]
Courage and Black Humor from Mark Steyn
When the going gets tough, the tough use black humor and courage. That’s one thought I had when reviewing last night’s event with Mark Steyn, presented by the Citizens’ Council on Health Care (CCHC), which as of last night is the Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom. KTLK-FM host Sue Jeffers started things off by saying it was no accident the event was held on Veterans […]
Guns and Butter on Veterans Day
On this Veterans Day, I’d like to thank those who have labored in military service to this country. They have helped secure the environment in which people are free to engage in the production and sale of goods and services to fill a variety of human wants and needs. Commerce can and does occur during wartime, but a strong and effective military secures periods of […]