Entries
Chicago: The Town Barackonomics Shut Down
Chicago, where I'm visiting this week, is suffering from this recession more than almost any jurisdiction outside the Ground Zero "sand states." The magnitude of distress is visible even to the casual visitor. Chicago, where I'm visiting this week, is suffering from this recession more than …Don't Bother Boycotting BP
Calls for boycotting BP gas stations are not only useless, they also distract attention from our home-grown failure to shake our oil addiction. The Brits have worked themselves into a snit over the impudent remarks about BP emanating from the colonies. It’s tempting to tell our friends across …Obamacare Needs Lifesaving Deficit Surgery
When President Obama signed his health reforms into law he promised they would reduce the deficit. Now, less than three months later, the White House is working overtime to break that pledge. Obamacare will reduce the deficit. It’s one of the basic promises of the White House. Indeed, …
Sharron Angle: Once Member of a Far-Right Fringe Party
Justin Elliott reports that Sharron Angle used to be the member of a radical fringe group, the "Independent American Party." The Party's platform was a mix of outlandish conspiracy theories and radical politics: For at least six years in the 1990s before she held statewide elective office, …
France's Not-So-Free Speech Laws
Recently, France’s interior minister was fined for comments he made about Muslims at a private meeting. The case is a reminder that in France, everything you say can – and in many cases, most likely will – be used against you in a court of law. Before traveling to France, it would be prudent to …American Arrested for Trying to Kill bin Laden
An American has been arrested in Pakistan for going on a one-man-mission to kill Osama bin Laden: An American armed with a pistol and a 40-inch (102-centimeter) sword was detained in northern Pakistan and told investigators he was on a solo mission to kill Osama bin Laden, a police officer …
Podhoretz: Obama's Strange Oil Leak Analogy
In a column for the New York Post , John Podhoretz asks why Obama thinks there is any similarity between the Gulf oil leak, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks: The first thing that needs to be said is this: The only thing the oil spill and 9/11 have in common is nothing . Yes, 9/11 was very …
Petraeus Falls Ill During Hearing
While giving testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, General David Petraeus appeared to collapse and faint. He later returned saying he was fine, but the hearing has been rescheduled for Wednesday morning: Click here to read more.Trading Lives for Good PR
The aim of the “courageous restraint” medal is obviously to save civilian lives and deter criticism when civilian casualties occur. But are we willing to accept an increase in our own casualties? Although it is under serious consideration, the idea of awarding a “courageous restraint” medal for …Reid's Defeat Will Revive Nuke Industry
Harry Reid's name may be on the ballot, but the real winner or loser of November's U.S. Senate election in Nevada may be the U.S. nuclear power industry. Harry Reid's name may be on the ballot, but the real winner or loser of November's U.S. Senate election in Nevada may be the U.S. nuclear power …Rand Paul's Fundraiser Violates Campaign Pledge
Several Kentucky blogs have pointed out that Rand Paul's plans to hold a fundraiser in Washington DC actually breaks a campaign promise of his not to accept money from lawmakers who voted for the 2008 bailouts: Paul, a favored son of the Tea Party movement, pledged on August 31, 2009, to …
Hillary Ranks U.S. as Human Trafficker
Secretary of State Clinton has unveiled an assessment of states that deal in human trafficking, and the U.S. is on it: The United States was ranked for the first time Monday in the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons report when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rolled out …
Bartlett: States Face Budget Shortfalls
At his new column at the Fiscal Times , Bruce Bartlett explores how the budgets of the states are under extreme pressure: On Saturday, President Obama asked Congress to extend federal aid to the states. Because their fiscal years run from July 1 to June 30 (the federal fiscal year …
Applebaum: This is Not "Obama's Katrina"
Columnist Anne Applebaum argues that contrary to the conventional wisdom, the BP oil leak is not "Obama's Katrina" as some have termed it since there is little that Obama can actually do: Here is the hard truth: The U.S. government does not possess a secret method for capping oil leaks. Even …
King: Obama "Favors the Black Person"
Representative Steve King of Iowa has made some comments that he will likely have to provide an explanation for: Media Matters reports that King made the remarks this morning in an appearance on the G. Gordon Liddy radio show, during a discussion of the Obama administration's criticism of the …
York: Obama Ignored Drilling Risks
Byron York argues that Obama should have focused on dealing with problems in the Minerals Management Service, but was too distracted to notice that something had to be done: The cleanup had already begun in the last months of the Bush administration, but President Obama and Interior Secretary …
U.S.-Mexico Border Security Deteriorates
The Washington Examiner reports on the worsening situation on the Mexican border: Tensions between the United States and Mexico have grown in recent weeks with the deaths of two Mexicans at the hands of U.S. Law enforcement agents during violent border encounters. On May 28, Anastasio …
Alvin Greene's Primary Win Challenged
Alvin Greene's opponent from the South Carolina Democratic primary is challenging the validity of the election results: His fate now rests with the state Democratic Party's 92-member executive committee, which will meet on Thursday to hear evidence of the challenge and decide whether to throw …
Libby Davies Under Fire for Israel Comments
The Canadian New Democratic Party deputy leader Libby Davies is facing controversy due to comments she made about the state of Israel: The remarks, made in Vancouver and captured in this video video, which is circulating rapidly on the Internet, have provoked an angry backlash among …