Wednesday night links and comments

Unknown presidential candidate Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) guest blogged a post at GOPBloggers. All of it is worth reading to understand Hunter's conservative point of view. The best line is this jab at his GOP opponents:

National Journal ranks me as the most conservative member of Congress running for the Presidency based on my lifetime voting record. So, I don't need to hire an army of consultants to turn me into a conservative.

Right now Hunter would be the candidate most in alignment with my positions. His problem is that outside of California no one knows him. Perception can become reality as campaign donations go to candidates perceived to have a chance and he doesn't have a chance because of lack of funding.

James Dobson is some kind of heavy weight in the "religious right." Recently, he opened his mouth to change feet. Unfortunately, while his mouth was open some words escaped regarding former senator and potential presidential candidate Fred Thompson.

"Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for," Dobson said of Thompson. "[But] I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression," Dobson added, saying that such an impression would make it difficult for Thompson to connect with the Republican Party's conservative Christian base and win the GOP nomination.

Just who the heck does this goof think he is questioning someone's Christianity. I have no problem with religious "leaders" advising their congregation about issues (ex: sin is bad, follow the Ten Commandments, etc). However, it is disquieting to see them get involved in this manner. Politically, this could be an opportunity for Thompson to have a "Sister Souljah moment." It would be great to see Thompson publicly slam Dobson and tell him he has no business questioning his faith.

William F. Buckley Jr. has a column titled "John Edwards Will Give You Free Health Care." It is a shame that politicians don't understand the concept that nothing is really free. Someone else may be paying, but unless doctors and nurses start working for nothing and companies stop charging for medical equipment and supplies then medical treatment will not be free.

Therefore, Mr. Edwards is doing nothing more than to call for increased taxes on the wealthy. They used to call that socialized medicine, when it was instituted by Great Britain after the war. It crossed the Atlantic into Canada, which is a tidy country in which to get sick, provided you can afford to travel across the border to an American doctor.

Most political endorsements are a quid pro quo to some degree, but this is fairly transparent.

Sen. Hillary Clinton has agreed to help former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who endorsed her Monday, pay off his $400,000 campaign debt. Clinton (D-N.Y.) will put the arm on her donor network for Vilsack, who quit the presidential race Feb. 23 citing financial difficulties.

We can only hope this story is true and that this will change things.

U.S. forces have arrested the leaders of one of the deadliest car-bomb-making networks in Baghdad, a military spokesman said.

I frequently criticize lawyers and judges for their negative affect on our society so I should acknowledge it when they use common sense. Here is an instance of a judge stopping someone from doing something really stupid.

Judge bars Bears fan from making good on 'Peyton Manning' bet

Sad story of the day:

Sister of Dying Man Refuses to Donate Bone Marrow to Save His Life

The sad part isn't that he will die. Everyone dies. No, the sad part is he will die knowing his sister thought so little of him that she would not try to help him live longer.