Have been meaning to write on this for a while, but all the words back-and-forth over the Stalinization of Health Care Act of 2010 kind of got us all on a single track for a while. But now finally getting the chance.

I lived in Cleveland for a short time as a kid and remembered it being kind of drizzly and grey, climate-wise. (Given that my family moved from there to the Queen City of the Plains in our great Centennial State, naturally, the clime left much to be desired. Not every place can be as beautiful as here!) However, I didn’t know much about the problems of the “Mistake on the Lake”, as it’s called by some.

Earlier this month, reason.tv posted a series of videos featuring the city’s favorite son, Drew Carey, and focusing on free-market solutions to the city’s issues. It’s a six-part series titled “Reason Saves Cleveland”. If you’re from the area, or are interested in urban revitilization through free-market principles and liberty, I recommend you take the time (about an hour altogether for all six episodes) to check it out.

The topics are:
Episode 1: The Decline of a Once-Great City
Episode 2: Fix the Schools
Episode 3: Privatize It
Episode 4: Take Care of Business
Episode 5: Encourage Bottom-Up Redevelopment
Episode 6: Bring Back the People

Some jokingly say that Cleveland’s motto is, “Maybe Next Year”. Tongue in cheek, sure. But maybe there’s something to that. For that matter, ideas like these could probably help many other cities in a recession-era slump, and even some who are doing well but could also benefit from a capitalist shot in the arm.

-Nick (ColoradoPatriot, from The Office)

Perhaps at some other time, I’ll offer a more complete account of the wonderful evening I had last night, sitting next to Tammy Bruce and listening to former Vice President Cheney.  I  could mention the good company of our readers, the multiple standing ovations for the greatest Vice President of the past 100 years, the warm welcome we received from the Claremont Institute and the good work that they do.  Or that this blog was listed in the program of this conservative think tank’s annual dinner.

I will focus instead on the good man that Richard Cheney is and my brief meeting with that distinguished statesman.

Due to his health (he recently suffered a heart attack), Mr. Cheney did not do a photo op at the VIP reception.  So, right after desert, I mustered my courage and with Tammy, went over to introduce myself.  He was very polite, respectful.  In the 45 seconds or so I had to talk to him, I knew I couldn’t say much.  It would be rude to take up more of his time.

I could thank him for his steadfast commitment to our nation’s security and to conservative principles, for not backing down — or letting it get to him — when he was attacked unfairly in the media.  Instead, I offered the name of our blog, told him how honored I was when I learned that his younger daughter read our web-site, then did something I am sure few gay people have done, though many should.  I thanked him for publicly opposing the Federal Marriage Act in 2004 and told him how much of a hero he was to gay conservatives.

While gay activists may disagree with much that this good man has done and said, they should at least acknowledge how, he stood apart from the then-president on that one key issue.  Alas that so few have acknowledged this most pro-gay Vice President in U.S. history.

There he goes again.  Obama just can’t seem to help himself.  He just has to blame Republicans.

What happened to no blue states or red states?  What happened to post-partisan?  What about the guy who was “trying to break is a pattern in Washington where everybody is always looking for somebody else to blame“?

He’s not breaking the old pattern; he’s forging it anew and stronger than ever.  In announcing yesterday 15 recess appointees, the president blamed Republicans:

But, if in the interest of scoring political points, Republicans in the Senate refuse to exercise that responsibility, I must act in the interest of the American people and exercise my authority to fill these positions… I simply cannot allow partisan politics to stand in the way of the basic functioning of government.

Why does he have to politicize?  Why can’t he just announce the appointments without uttering such partisan recrimination?

It’s as if he’s still on the campaign trail.