Regular Session Legislative Update is Up

At the Free Market Institute website.

Cross posted at Look True North.

Thanks to Jack and Ben and "The Late Debate"

Thanks to Jack and Ben for hosting me on 95.9--FM "The Late Debate" tonight.  It was great fun.

The podcast is up, and available for download, here.

What Price Nuclear-Free?

MIT's Technology Review looks at the cost to consumers of Germany going nuclear free.  They conclude the cost will be high.

Clive Crook blogs on "Germany's Energy Incoherence" over at The Atlantic.

(Via InstaPundit)

Weekend Roundup

Steyn:

In his weekly column, Mark Steyn takes on Weinergate.  Ignoring the jokes, this was my favorite bit,

"It's the political class doing all this relentless "work for the American people" that's turned this country into the brokest nation in the history of the planet, killed the American Dream and left the American people headed for a future poised somewhere between the Weimar Republic and Mad Max."

Personally, I believe that A Clockwork Orange is the more likely scenario.

Mead:

Speaking of the death of the American Dream, Walter Russell Mead takes on that very subject in Part II of his series.  (In the middle of the piece is a brief discussion of the Jefferson vs. Madison debate.)

Mead's advice for looking forward:

"Rather that focusing on home ownership, American social policy should probably be looking at small business formation as the key to mass middle class prosperity in the next fifty years."

WSJ Weekend:

The Wall Street Journal carries a commentary today by Frits Bolkestein on How Europe Lost Faith in Its Own Civilization."  He ends the piece with this thought,

"So much the better that a handful of European leaders now are attempting to reverse our slow cultural suicide. If Europe can retake pride in its own classical values, it and the world will be better off."

Chris Christie and Cap and Trade

The Wall Street Journal has an editorial in today's paper on Chris Christie pulling out of the Northeast cap and trade system for carbon (subscription required).  Headlined, "Christie's Carbon Awakening" the Journal writes,

"The Garden State is a left-of-center suburban state highly sensitive to symbolic environmental politics, yet Mr. Christie felt he could safely withdraw on economic grounds."

Death of the American Dream

If you only have time to read one blog, quit wasting your time here and get over to Walter Russell Mead's Via Meadia, where today he chronicles The Death of the American Dream.

Updated: La fin de l'empire art in Venice

So I'm driving home this evening, listening to Public Radio, when this story comes on, talking about the Venice Biennale art exhibit now going in in Italy.

What caught my ear was the description of this piece:

It depicts an overturned U.S. tank, from the Korea-era, with an exercise treadmill perched on top.  This sort of decadent, politicized art is ten a penny in the contemporary art scene.  But this piece was sponsored by the U.S. State Department as part of the official U.S. Pavilion at the exhibit.  It's part of a larger exhibit called Gloria, by two artists living in Puerto Rico.

On the radio, a State Department flack went on about how the art demonstrates Obama's "soft/smart diplomatic" approach.  I have to agree:  the overturned tank probably does line up with Obama's view of diplomacy.

In his own words,

"David Mees, the U.S. cultural attache in Rome, believes that Gloria offers more than just shock value.  It's actually an example of an underrated tool of foreign policy, he says — something the administration refers to as 'soft diplomacy.' "

Words fail me.

But the New York Times found many words to describe the art, all favorable.

Updated 2: Inverted Block Rate Law Repealed (Bumped)

Tom Steward at Minnesota State News discusses the repeal of Minnesota's inverted block rate law for natural gas prices.

Update 1: 

• Here is the version on the Freedom Foundation website, emphasizing the support of DFL Attorney General Lori Swanson for the repeal.
• Here is the press release from the Attorney General.

Update 2:

• Here is the Channel 9 story on the AG's action yesterday
• The Star Tribune article on the AG
• The Pioneer Press writes on the AG
• Minnesota Public Radio on the AG

Update 3: 

• Here is Tom's original piece reposted at Watchdog.org.

Updated: Budget Debate Meets Town Hall Minnesota

I was lucky enough to attend a "town hall"-type meeting this evening.  My state representative, Keith Downey (R-Edina), met with representatives of labor unions and the public at the Edina Community Center.  The event lasted for 90 minutes and the space was standing room only.  I thought that both Rep. Downey and the union participants were thoughtful and respectful.  Of course, a few in the crowd were rather animated at times, but overall I thought the event was a useful dialog on the budget situation in Minnesota.

I'm sure that not everyone in the crowd was happy with Rep. Downey's answers.  But knowing Keith, as I do, his answers are just what he really believes.  I will be interested to see the perspective of media and others who attended and I will link to those reactions here.

Update:

• Here is the Channel 9 coverage.  As TV has to do, it emphasizes the conflict.  The story led off the 9 o'clock news.
• Here is the Minnesota Public Radio piece.  From my recollection of the event, this coverage hits closer to the mark.
• The Union view, with more links
• Edina Patch.com

From the Edina Patch.com website:

That's me in the white shirt and dark blazer towards the left.

Thanks to the Faribault Rotary Club for a Great Meeting!

I very much enjoyed by trip to Faribault today.  The noon Rotary Club was well-attended, gave me a warm reception, and asked terrific questions.