BY RICH GALEN
Reprinted from Mullings.com

In one of those stories that, in the end, has all the policy implications of a White Sale at Macy’s, it seems that conservative radio talk show host Alex Jones appeared on the television talk show of British transplant Piers Morgan on Monday night.

The topic was Jones’ leading the petition to have Morgan deported because of Morgan’s heavy hand on the topic of gun control.

It turned into a shouting match that made an episode of Jerry Springer sound like a discussion between Lord Grantham and Carson the butler in the library.

Piers Morgan appeared on Wolf Blitzer’s program last night complaining that he found it odd that Alex Jones wanted to protect his Second Amendment rights by taking away Piers’ First Amendment rights.

SIDEBAR

The protections of the Constitution apply to anyone under U.S. control whether they are a citizen or not, because the Constitution describes (or is supposed to describe) what the Government can and can’t do.

This interpretation is sometimes strained.

END SIDEBAR

After watching that clip on Wolf’s program, I Tweeted: Lemme see… Piers is [irritated] because some want to limit his 1st Amendment right to demand limits on their 2nd Amendment right. Am I right?

The big thing is both Piers Morgan and Alex Jones have audiences that they can play to, and can both make tons of money doing it.

Is this a great country, or what?

I missed the Piers Morgan program Monday night because I was so entranced by the BCS National Championship football game between Notre Dame and Alabama. ‘Bama ended up winning 42-14 but the game was so lopsided that at halftime one of ESPN’s sideline reporters asked the Fighting Irish’s coach what he thought they could do to come back.

Coach Brian Kelly said, “Maybe Alabama won’t come out for the second half.”

ESPN play-by-play man Brent Musburger pointed out that Alabama head coach, Nick Saban, was comfortable in the college game because he is making about $6 million per year. To coach college football.

Is this a great country, or what?

When the Congress and the President decide to come back to work, they will be staring down the barrel of another budget fight. One of the best descriptions of where we are was forwarded to me by Mullster Peter Lynn:

* U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
* Fed budget: $3,820,000,000,000
* New debt: $1,650,000,000,000
* National debt: $14,271,000,000,000
* Recent budget cuts: $38,500,000,000

Let’s now remove 8 zeros and pretend it’s a household budget:

* Annual family income: $21,700
* Money the family spent: $38,200
* New debt on the credit card: $16,500
* Outstanding credit card balances: $142,710
* Total budget cuts so far: $38.50

Is this a great country, or what?

Editor’s Note: Rich Galen is former communications director for House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senator Dan Quayle. In 2003-2004, he did a six-month tour of duty in Iraq at the request of the White House engaging in public affairs with the Department of Defense. He also served as executive director of GOPAC and served in the private sector with Electronic Data Systems. Rich is a frequent lecturer and appears often as a political expert on ABC, CNN, Fox and other news outlets.