Quote of the day...

"...then voters need to understand that the supposed “new politics” of Obama smells very similar to that of the same old lies and empty rhetoric we have heard from the Beltway for decades. And without that “new politics”, Obama is nothing more than an empty suit with a pleasant voice. "

Random quote of the day...

“My desires were a malady, or a madness, or both. I grew careless of the lives of others. I took pleasure where it pleased me. I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and that therefore what one has done in the secret chamber one has some day to cry aloud on the housetop. I ceased to be lord over myself. I was no longer the captain of my soul, and did not know it. I allowed pleasure to dominate me. I ended in horrible disgrace. There is only one thing for me now, absolute humility.”

– Oscar Wilde, writing at the end of his very hedonistic life

Related: Listen to Dennis Prager talk about how we never have enough on his happiness hour radio show. Check the sidebar to the left for all of Dennis' more recent happiness hour audio podcasts.

Quote of the day... (Minnesota bridge collapse - updated)

Thomas Sowell is spot-on, as usual:

"The real problem is that the political incentives are to spend the taxpayers’ money on things that will enhance politicians’ chances of getting re-elected. There may be enough money available to maintain bridges and other infrastructure but that same money can have a bigger political pay-off if spent building something new instead of maintaining and repairing existing structures."

Thanks to the Patriot Post for the quote and photo source.

Update: More on the bridge congressional collapse from Sen. Tom Coburn:

...It is undeniable that official Washington has “taken its eye off the ball” with respect to bridge safety, and a host of other issues. Yet, the true structural flaw in our political system is not insufficient spending, but misplaced priorities.

No area better illustrates Congress’ misplaced priorities than pork-barrel spending. The Federal Highway Administration declared the bridge “structurally deficient” in 1990 and directly warned Minnesota officials. Yet, since 1990, Congress has show more devotion to pork-barrel spending than repair work. ...

Read it all.