Freedom & Progress

Check out this Washington Post story - Giuliani is getting it started.

Legendary economist and champion of freedom Milton Friedman passed away at 94. Below is a collection of articles honoring his life's work toward a freer world.

Friedman Foundation Statement
Friedman Championed Peace & Free Markets - Amity Shales, Bloomberg
Death of the Master - Bruce Bartlet, RealClearPolitics.com
NPQ Interview
PBS Interview

Putting aside the questionable aspect of the UN Report that Somalis were fighting along side Hezbollah in Lebanon in its war against Israel this past summer, it should cause grave concern that the government-less land of Somalia is being armed to the gills. Somalia is a failed-state run by war lords and their clans, some of which are Jihadi-inspired Islamists. If this sounds familiar, it ought to because this was the precise state of Afghanistan before the Taliban was able to consolidate power.

This World War will not end in Iraq.

CNN

Chris Matthews' Harball panel discusses the potential Giuliani candidacy and of course the panel repeats the "conventional wisdom" that Rudy is too liberal on social issues to get the Republican nomination. They also discuss that Rudy's most significant obstacle will be Arizona Senator John McCain.

It is true that the Republicans have a habit of nominating the one "whose turn" it is on line. If the Republicans follow this habit in 2008, then yes, the nomination will go to McCain. However, if the Party has its eyes on the prize and seeks victory, then Mayor Giuliani is the way to go.

Apparently, the Democratic National Committee issued a Press Release issue in response to Mayor Giuliani's annoucement that he had formed an exploratory committee. The New York Sun analyzes the Release accurately and shows why Democrats fear the candidate Giuliani can potentially win the Presidency in an electoral landslide.

F&P always believed that while the Democrats' talking points about Iraq during the campaign would be just enough to get them elected. What Democrats would do if, in fact, they were elected remained to be seen. In fact, very little substance could be derived from "bring the troops home," or "redeployment."

Now that the Dems are in power, they have actual responsibility and share the consequences if the United States fails in Iraq and retreats with little or no foreign policy objectives met. If the United States loses the war (read: prematurely withdrawing forces, allowing Iraq to slip into civil war thereby creating a haven for Islamic terrorists), Western Civilization will be in peril. The first battle of this World War will have been won by the enemy.

Thus, it remains to be scene whether the Democrats will unite the nation behind a strategic plan for victory, or advocate the fanciful notion that if we just "bring the troops home" all will be alright in the world.

John Heilemann of New York Magazine lays out the competing visions within the Democratic Party nicely here.

As reported by the New York Times.

Now that the mid-terms are behind us, the great race for the Presidency has begun in earnest. In this regard, between all the various pols of both parties 'interested' in running for President, F&P thus far favors former New York City Mayor and American Hero Rudy Giuliani.

So, henceforth, F&P will be linking any and all stories discussing the possibility of a Giuliani candidacy and, of course, any and all links advocating Mayor Giuliani to, in fact run.

Conventional wisdom has it that Rudy could never win the Republican nomination. F&P feels strongly that conventional wisdom has it all wrong. Conservatives and moderate Republicans alike will be drawn to Rudy's projection of strength, integrity and most importantly these days, competence. Rudy embodies true leadership. No one living in the New York City area during the Giuliani administration can deny that Rudy's leadership transformed a decaying and troubled city back into the Capital of the (civilized) world; a shining City on a Hill, a model for America. F&P maintains that 2008 will not focus so much on domestic social issues such as abortion and gay-rights, but rather on foundational issues such as American national and economic security.

F&P urges Mayor Giuliani to run for President and we pledge to do all we can to help Rudy find his way to the Republican nomination and the White House.

The New York Daily News agrees.

Draft Rudy!!!

Here are two stories that deal with the tension between the modern women's rights movement and Islam. In particular, these articles are noteworthy because the authors boldly assert a moral superiority - (rare these days) - of western-style women's rights to the apparent institutional misogyny of much of the Islamic world.

Women and Islam by Cathy Young

Is the Problem Islam? by Asra Nomani

How can government attempt to legislate historical truth? Or as Timothy Garton Ash puts it, "What right has France to prescribe by law the correct historical terminology to characterize what another nation did to a third nation 90 years ago?"

It is remarkable how eager leftists are to suppress freedom of thought and expression. Denouncing freedom was once the provice of rightist fascists. Presently, the left are ones eager to shout down any dissent from its orthodoxy. What would Jefferson say?

Economic growth, low unemployment (particularly among those with college education - 2%), a signficant decline (20%) in oil prices, along with the discovery of significant U.S. oil reserves, as well as a 1.3% increase in hourly workers compensation signifies that despite war, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and even Mark Foley's emails, the United States is doing quite well.

George Will explains it better than Publicola.

This is the situation the world is dealing with.

Hitchens' 2000 visit to the land of the Dear Leader.

NPR Morning Edition's interview with Guy Delisle.

Guy Delisle's illustration excerpts from this book on the Slave State.

Update:

China, Russia May Delay U.N. Resolution -What nuclear threat? How the Russians and Chinese take the stick away and only leave carrots.

Before it gets shut down, here is the Southpark episode confronting the insanity of the 9/11 Conspiracy types.

And here is a link with some of the conspiracy theorists' insane responses and another bloggers' witty commentary.