Angela Merkel of Germany and Pedro Solbes of Spain say No to Keynesianism and no to the global new deal, and crazed notion that more fiat money, more spending, and more consumption can cure a crisis caused by easy money, overspending, and overconsumption. May this be only the beginning of “allies? oppressed by the US and its dollar system, and its toady the UK, refusing to go along.

The credit-card industry may cut $2 trillion in lines of credit over the next 18 months, says banking analyst Meredith Whitney. Debt has been heavily subsidized, and thus we have far too much of it. No wonder they call it a correction. (Thanks to Norm Singleton.)

Ron Paul vs. Paulson and Bernanke. (Thanks to Minnesota Chris for all his work on these.)

The Pope is skipping a Bush dinner in his honor. While Benedict XVI will talk with Bush, he is not attending a White House PR event hosted by the warmonger-in-chief. (Thanks to Ralph Raico.)

Pope Benedict XVI refuses to allow US warharpy Condoleezza Rice to stage a propaganda event involving the Holy See.

The US has an estimated 90 guns per 100 people.

African-Americans, members of the demographic group most opposed to US aggression in Iraq, are declining to enlist in the killing.

A German entrepreneur wants to start an all-smoking airline. Cuban cigars will be on offer, as well as retro luxury. An American entrepreneur sought to do the same for our country in the 1980s (minus the Cubans), but the Reaganite FAA blocked his way. (Thanks to Eric Garris for the link.)

Tom Woods’s newest book, The Church and the Market: A Catholic Defense of the Free Economy, is now shipping from Amazon. It may not sell like The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History, but it’s every bit as important.

The cigarette case is making a comeback. Not only is it cool, but it eliminates offensive government advertising.

(Thanks to George Natalino)