From big-spending liberals in Washington to their counterparts in the Democratic bastions of urban America – all share a singular talent for spending other people's money. Consider the case of Sheryl Cole, the first African-American elected to the City Council in Austin, Texas. Recently, Cole has been in the public spotlight because of her 10-day trip to South Africa (unwittingly paid for by Austin taxpayers) as part of a junket organized by the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. Local news outlets, led by feisty government watchdog Internet site "The Austin Bulldog," have recently been calling attention to Cole's trip two years ago. She stayed at luxury hotels and enjoyed complimentary beverages and extra legroom on an upgraded airline flight. Taxpayers, of course, are generally concerned with mundane things such as good schools, well-maintained roads, and other public services: police and fire departments, trash collection, etc. But in justifying her ...(Read Full Post)