My Morning Wooten

Less perturbation. More eyerolling.

Environmental extremists oppose all efforts to add capacity —- oil, water or highway. Why? Managing shortages gives them the power to tell you where and how to live. It’s a life-control tool. When you see the word “alternatives” to more drilling, reservoirs or road capacity, it’s code for dig-in-the-heels opposition to solutions

Call me an environmentalist whackjob but my main objection to expanding I-85 at Pleasant Hill to 50 lanes is it is typical lack of government effeciency and typical income redistribution vis-a-vis using my tax dollars for the convenience of others - concepts surely a "conservative" understands.

The inexperienced Obama may not know what he believes, but he’s certain about this: He wouldn’t have nominated Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court because he doesn’t think he was “a strong enough jurist or legal thinker at the time.” What arrogance.

Despite the caterwauling about hairs on coke cans, there were plenty of level-headed people, including the American Bar Association, who pointed out Thomas' portfolio was awfully thin. But we can't point out any flaw in St. Clarence. Pointing out that liberal justice John Paul Stevens with more than 30 years experience on the bench a dangerous kook? Well, that's obviously a different story.

Good or bad, we get the behaviors we pay for. Mortgage brokers who signed up borrowers for high-interest/high-fee “liar loan” mortgages —- those requiring no verification of job, income or assets —- could make $15,000 on a $300,000 loan. A traditional loan would net $2,000 to $4,000. No surprise. Half of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac losses of $3.1 billion between April and June were due to liar loans. Invite people to rip off any business or government program, or to immigrate illegally, and they will.

From the mortgage scandal to illegal immigration in three sentences? For those playing Wooten non-sequitor bingo, I-42!

An Orlando newspaper reporter notes that McCain got a better reception among veterans attending a VFW convention than Obama. That information was conveyed thusly: “But McCain was the clear favorite among the predominantly older, white male crowd. …” Perhaps the louder applause was because McCain is a fellow veteran, was deemed to be the better leader on national security issues, or because he’s an older white male?

More of the old cutting off the nose to spite the face strategy. Jim loves to play editor with the straight news stories. Wouldn't it be fun to let some of the straight newsies do the same with some of his nonsense? Start with yesterday's My Morning Wooten.

Liberals and conservatives are alarmed about the growing national deficit —- but with liberals it’s never when proposing new entitlements.

And with "conservatives" its never when we charge the national credit card to the point where settling accounts means selling Oregon to the Chinese.

Take a deep breath. Count to 10 —- and then don’t say dumb things, like the response to a report that State School Superintendent Kathy Cox will appear on the game show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” The quote is from Tim Callahan of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, which at one time did not act and sound like a union. Said Callahan: “The budget is in meltdown, the CRCT is a mess and you have a superintendent in Hollywood taping a game show. It gives new definition to the word ‘frivolous.’ ” Lighten up, bud

Lighten up dude! Republicans are just fun-loving people who like game shows hosted by funny guys with accents! I'm sure Jim will also take a deep breath, count to ten and remember his own advice the next time he sees a Democrat fiddling while Georgia burns.

Selah.