Don't want to be an American idiot

(Once again, image from the other-worldly darkblack)

Once again, the Orange Co. Register provides an interesting look inside the asylum that is the Right. Sometimes doctriaire conservative, they publish editorials by folks like empty-suit John Stossel, who thoughtfully comments on Trickle-Down Economics™, the Laffer Curve, and Milton Friedman's "genius":

Yes, the tax cuts stimulated the economy and increased tax revenue. It happens because, as the Laffer Curve illustrates, lower rates mean higher rewards for productive activities. People undertake investments and work that higher tax rates had discouraged. They are also less likely to invest time and energy in using accountants and tax lawyers to find ways to avoid taxes.

Nice, 2 myths in one: trickle-down, and sleazy lawyers. Not bad for a day's corporate whore work, John.

But sometimes the OCRegister shows its Ron Paul-esque Libertarian side with this editorial on, well, the Republican Presidential Debate and Ron Paul:

Then Mr. Goler asked: "Are you suggesting we invited the 9/11 attack, sir?" Mr. Paul's answer: "I'm suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it, and they are delighted that we're over there because Osama bin Laden has said, 'I am glad you're over on our sand because we can target you so much easier.'"

Rudy Giuliani piped in: "That's an extraordinary statement, as someone who lived through the attack of Sept. 11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq." Mr. Giuliani and media reports suggested that Mr. Paul had blamed the United States for 9/11, which is not what he said at all. Nonetheless, some Republican officials are pushing to keep Mr. Paul out of future debates.

If you can't out-argue him, you might as well muzzle him.

One would think that Americans could have a serious conversation about the causes of the 9/11 attacks without being accused of blaming America.

It's unfortunate that the leading GOP candidate – the man who once made the Orwellian argument that "Freedom is about authority" – tried to shut down a legitimate debate through mischaracterizations and insults. And that others are willing to push Mr. Paul off the stage. No wonder his long-shot candidacy continues to gain steam.

Look, Michael Jackson's going to marry a black woman sooner than I will voter for any Conservatarian™, it just not my vision of the country. But it's nice to know someone on the nominal Right is paying attention to reality. The rest are just thumping their collective chests like angry gorillas, ready to chase Osama to the gates of Hell just as soon as they check their Blackberry's, buy bigger flag pins for their lapels, and re-visit the Scopes monkey trial.

Moral and ethical midgets, everyone.