Is Mullah Mohammad Omar Dead?
The big question today will be whether or not Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar is dead. CBS reports that the Afghan intelligence agency has reported that Omar has gone missing without a trace. CBS is also reporting that a media report, presumably in Afghanistan, said that Omar had been killed in a shooting while traveling in Pakistan. This no doubt would be a major development in the war in Afghanistan as Omar is known as the “spiritual leader” of the Taliban and led them in ruling Afghanistan.
Former Governor Tim Pawlenty argued hard against ethanol subsidies this week. That’s a good move for Pawlenty and should garner him some support among real conservatives. I wonder how it will play in the Iowa caucuses?
White House spinmeister David Axelrod has been trying to take out a possible future conservative super-star, Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia. McDonnell has been the less followed of Christie-McDonnell duo, who were both elected governor in 2009. That was the same election that brought Scott Brown to the Senate. McDonnell trounced Axelrod’s petty, scripted criticisms in an interview with Human Events editor Jason Mattera.
Originally meant for widows and orphans, Social Security has obviously morphed into a one-size-fits-all government pension program it was never intended to be. When conservatives ask who is to blame for the mission creep in the federal government’s social welfare programs, they need not look further than the likes of Judge David B. Daugherty. The Wall Street Journal reports that so far in 2011 Daugherty has awarded Social Security benefits to 100% of the applicants who applied in his court. That compares to about a 60% approval rate for the average judge.
As if any more evidence were needed to stress how important presidential Supreme Court appointments are, this week, the liberal wing of the Court, joined by the fickle Justice Anthony Kennedy, voted to force California to release nearly 40,000 inmates from prison. Looks like liberals have finally succeeded in their goal of turning California into the nation’s largest prison camp.
Forbes reports that Jon Bon Jovi and his band earned more money over the last year than did Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry combined. Bon Jovi pulled in $125 million last year by using some impressive operational techniques. Forbes writes, “Whereas Lady Gaga schleps dozens of dancers from town to town and needs 28 trucks to cart her equipment, Bon Jovi typically plays with six people. A dozen trucks carry the gear, including a circular stage and 192 double-sided LED video screens connected with a specially designed motion control system, which allows them to come together to form a screen 13-feet high and 40-feet wide. At arenas like Montreal’s 21,500-capacity Bell Center, the in-the-round setup lets the band sell up to 5,500 more tickets than a traditional arena stage would. Wherever possible, Bon Jovi plays consecutive nights at the same venue to cut back on setup and strike costs. By playing 12 shows in 19 days at London’s O2 arena, the band saved $300,000.”
For more Rock n’ Roll business sense, be sure to check out the latest video from Gene Simmons on picking a quality brand to endorse, below. To check out his views on the president, click here.
Finally, for the most comprehensive and intelligent paper yet written on the disaster that is Obamacare, read The Case Against President Obama’s Health Care Reform: A Primer for Nonlawyers by my good friend Bob Levy, chairman of the Cato Institute.
