Did Somebody Tell Him That Populism is the Science of Getting Popular Again?

Quotes from Today's news:

"America's corporate boardrooms must step up to their responsibilities, you need to pay attention to the executive compensation packages that you approve."

"The fact is that income inequality is real ... The earnings gap is now twice as wide as it was in 1980 — and it continues to grow."

-President W, discussing CEO compensation.

"...if you have an Adjusted Gross Income of $200,000 or more, your participation in the commodity programs under Title I of the Farm Bill would cease. That is, in the top 2.3 percent of Americans if you look at the statistics of the Internal Revenue Service."

-Ag Sec. Johanns, explaining the new farm bill proposal from the Bush administration.

What, exactly, is going on here?

Bexley in the Headlines

I feel like I should weigh in on this, but there's not a whole lot to say. A fire broke out early this morning at a synagogue here in Bexley. The fire lasted for 16 minutes and was restricted to the office portion of the building by the Columbus Fire Dept., never reaching the sanctuary itself.

From how I read the article and the comments on the website, the FD originally stated that the fire was set, as it started in a closet with no electricity. Somehow the Dispatch parsed this as "Arson," and put out a Breaking News story with the headline "Arsonist Strikes Bexley Synagogue Office," apparently with complete disregard for the consequences such an action might have, if perchance the fire was actually the result of a kid playing with a lighter.

So the fire was set. Most likely by accident. Religious and ethnic tensions were enflamed. Also most likely by accident. The kid who set the fire was seven years old. I'm sure the Dispatch also has a good excuse.

BB Question of the (Wednes) Day

Yesterday's question didn't really get answered, although I enjoyed Paul's view on things. Today's question:

If it were up to you, how would you raise the revenue required to fully fund public education in Ohio?

I've been brainstorming for politically viable methods. As everyone knows, it ain't easy. So,if you have no ideas, feel free to tee off on one of these:

• Increase the Cigarette Tax


• Apply Sales Tax To Prepared Take-Out Food


• 'Luxury Tax' on School Districts collecting more than 20 mills (For every Mill collected above 20 mills, an amount equivalent to 1/4 of a mill must be transferred to the state school trust fund)

Who needs the K Street Project?

When you've got Google Ads?
I never imagined it had gotten so bad.

BB Question of the Day

In what is sure to be a short lived feature here at Blue Bexley, I'll be asking a question that I'd like to see people discuss down in the comments. Previous commenters know that I don't use comment moderation, but I do respectfully request that folks refrain from using the "anonymous" option. Pick a name. Any name. Thanks. Today's question:

Tangentially following up on Brian's frustrated post at Plunderbund...

Are alternative fuels the default solution to our energy problems simply because it is impossible to get Americans to consider alternative modes of transportation?

Not So Fast With the Whole Q-Poll Numbers Look Good for Hillary

Quinnipiac has their first Ohio 2008 Poll out and people are talking. Many are talking about how Hillary's numbers are the strongest. I don't see it.

What I see when I look at these numbers is still very consistent with name recognition. Look at McCain:

41 vs. Obama 38 vs. Don't Know 18
41 vs. Edwards 44 vs. Don't know 11
42 vs. Clinton 46 vs. Don't know 8

We see McCain with remarkably consistent levels of support, and the 'don't knows' pulled to the Democrat, if the Dem is known. Except that McCain gets a little tick up from anti-Hillary votes.

This does not mean that Hillary "can't win Ohio," but that's a pretty silly hypothesis to be testing with polls at this point, anyway.

Cliches of Getting Older

It was bad enough when the Jesus and Mary Chain were used to sell Chevrolets, Tones on Tail used to sell Dockers, and Iggy Pop ended up on cruises and Cadillacs. The Buzzcocks are, well, first the Buzzcocks, the pioneers of pop-single punk, had a twenty year old song show up in Shrek 2, and now another one of their songs is being used in a TV commercial.

For AARP.