Your World, According to the Right (Four Fables)

This Essay is no big deal.

I simply had a few moments before the markets closed — as I watched the Dow crumble along with the Dollar — so I thought I would read a few blogs on the Right and see what they’re talking about today. I like to read the Right Wing blogs when they discuss the economy. The Right thinks America has a grrrreat economy. Most of the time, it’s really pretty funny (gawd they’re dumb) but overall, their “optimism” can be a soothing balm after a big dose of reality.

Anyway, I noticed four “busy” topics over there I thought I would bring back here. (Plus, I’ve added a little note on each about how your fellow-voters see America and your place in it):

Some House Backers of Thompson Are Starting to Lose the Faith

Several House Republicans who endorsed Fred Thompson for president now say that they are frustrated with what they view as an apathetic campaign, and at least one regrets having committed to the former Tennessee senator.

“I think he’s kind of done a belly flop,” said an estranged Thompson backer who indicated he will not pull his public support before the “Super Tuesday” primaries. “We’ll just wait till after Feb. 5 because I think he’s going to get beat.”

The disaffected members of team Thompson say that he has failed to put to rest whispers that he is unwilling to campaign hard enough to win the presidency.

“He seems to be perpetuating it instead of defeating it,” another dissatisfied Thompson backer told CQ Politics. “I can’t see me bailing on him, but there’s some frustration.”

___________________________________________________________________________

Typical Right Wing Reaction: “I started reading the article, but I stopped because it was a crock.”

U.S. Prison System a ‘Costly Failure’  

The report calls for a major overhaul of the US justice system.

The US prison population has risen eight-fold since 1970, with little impact on crime but at great cost to the taxpayer, researchers say.

There are more than 1.5 million people in US state and federal jails, a report by a Washington-based criminal justice research group, the JFA Institute says.

Inmate numbers are projected to rise by 192,000 in five years, costing $27.5bn (£13.44bn) to build and run jails.

The JFA recommends reducing the number and length of sentences.

The Unlocking America report, which was published on Monday, also advocated changing terms of parole and finding alternatives to prison as part of a major overhaul of the US justice system.

“There is no evidence that keeping people in prison longer makes us any safer,” said JFA president James Austin.

___________________________________________________________________________

Typical Right Wing Reaction:  “Liberals want prison reform because their base is mostly felons.”

Builders See Worse Times Ahead

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Home builders’ confidence stayed at record low levels in a November reading released Monday, as a slight uptick in buyer traffic was balanced out by a slightly more pessimistic view six months down the road.

The survey of builders found 57 percent now expect a poor market for new homes six months from now. Only 5.7 percent are looking for a good housing market that soon.

“The message from today’s report is that builders do not see any significant change in housing market conditions as compared to last month,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “While they continue to work down inventories of unsold homes and reposition themselves for the market’s eventual recovery, they realize it will be some time before market conditions support an upswing in building activity – most likely by the second half of 2008.”

The report comes the day before the Census Bureau is set to report on housing starts and permits, which are often seen as another measure of builder’s confidence in the market. Both readings are forecast to fall to a 14-year low.

___________________________________________________________________________

Typical Right Wing Reaction:  “How soon before leftist/democrats demand that more credit be extended to the poor? That’s what caused the subprime problem to start with.”

Soldier Re-enlists Hours after IED Injury

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq – A U.S. Soldier re-enlisted in the Army just hours after being seriously wounded in an improvised explosive attack near Zaganiyah, Iraq, Nov. 13.

Spc. Christopher Hoyt, an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., suffered severe lacerations to his legs and torso when an IED exploded near him while conducting a dismounted patrol. Two of his fellow Soldiers were killed in the attack.

Hoyt was rushed to the emergency room at Logistics Support Area Anaconda, where he decided to re-enlist for four more years in the Army.

Command Sgt. Maj. John Troxell, the brigade’s top noncommissioned officer, was on hand for Hoyt’s reenlistment.

“It takes a person of very strong character to go through an incident where another Soldier five feet away was killed and he was severally wounded and still say ‘I believe in what we are doing and I want to stay on the team. I want to support the United States Army and my country.’

___________________________________________________________________________

Typical Right Wing Reaction:  “Guys and gals like this (in Iraq) are what is going to keep this country together!”