A Chicago Blog

This sounds like a good idea. The Transportation Security Administration, in order to offset costs of airport security, is selling ads to Zappos.com, which is a online shoe site. But I think there should be some questions asked and answer. First, TSA has a $6.3 billion budget and presumably most of that comes from the taxpayer. It is not clear on their web site just how much. Is the goal of these adds for TSA to be essentially revenue neutral? Or is it simply to leverage their funding base to alow them to spend more money on non-security related functions? Moreover, it would seem the rules governing the selling of these ads should be posted on their web site, along with disclosure of all bids submitted and any potential conflicts of interest within the department. Do any of the high-level bureaucrats have a financial interest in Zappos.com?

If I search their web site for zappos.com, I find nothing, and that seems to be an unacceptable absence of transparency, especially since the program has been in place over six months.

I’m in Denver on work. We’re doing blogger training here. We call it Samsphere. I’m currently moderating a panel. Hey, look! it’s being live blogged! This creates all sorts of metaphysical quandries.

We should embrace free speech in this country, even when it is offensive. Unerringly. But whenever a certain “speech” touches on our personal or national symbology it is very natural to be outraged. The millions of men and women who have served this country in the military, who have risked their lives, and who have seen their friends die on the battlefield; they have the right to be upset about this.

The wife and I are in Seattle on vacation. Blogging for the next couple days will consist mostly of stills. I should be back to regular blogging next week.

From the Michigan recall fight:

From Barr’s Blog:

In a survey commissioned last week by the Bob Barr 2008 Presidential Exploratory Committee, seven percent of likely voters responded that they would vote for the former Georgia congressman for president if he were on the ballot in November. Shortly after Ross Perot announced he was re-entering the presidential race in October 1992, he polled at seven percent. Barr is considering whether to seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party for president.

It’s hard to know what to make of this. Internal polling done for campaigns is usually very reliable, sometimes more so than standard “generic” polls. However, polls are also a good way to get people talking about you, which leads me to question the accuracy of this poll somewhat.

Either way, though, this is good news for libertarians who might have their most viable candidate ever in Bob Barr. Republicans fed up with big-government conservatism are likely to see Barr as a welcome reminder of what their party once was … and perhaps a sign of what the LP could be.

Barr’s main stumbling block will be dealing with fear that a third party candidate will split the vote and put Barack Obama in office.

At least you don’t live in Detroit:

I tend to be somewhat libertarian on immigration. But even I have to admit there’s a problem here.

I had the opportunity to meet them this morning. Thanks for having me on guys!