National Politics

Bobby Jindal: Make Congress Part Time

By Monique Chartier | November 25, 2010 |

Gov Jindal of Louisiana puts forth this excellent proposal in an interview with former Rhode Islander and current Human Events editor Jason Mattera. Amazingly, it doesn’t even appear to be unconstitutional as the Constitution does not specify the duration of a Congressional session. A determination of what comprises “part time” would have to be made.…

I’m Sure Nothing Like This Goes on in Rhode Island

By Justin Katz | November 20, 2010 |

It’s all about protecting the establishment — Republican or Democrat: [Alaskan Republican Joe Miller’s] campaign has posted on their site three affidavits from voters concerned that irregular activity occurred at their polling places. One says that, although he was the tenth voter at his location, he saw a ballot box stuffed with “hundreds” of ballots.…

A Cautionary Note for Republicans

By Justin Katz | November 19, 2010 |

A self-reinforcing ailment appears to be involved with Nancy Pelosi’s retention of her leadership role in the U.S. House: “She is the face that defeated us in this last election,” declared Florida Rep. Allen Boyd, who was among those who lost re-election fights. However, Pelosi, who presided over big Democratic gains in the 2006 and…

Frustrated Populism

By Marc Comtois | November 19, 2010 |

Charles Krauthammer summarizes why touching our junk has become a tipping point: Homeland Security’s newest brainstorm – the upgraded, full-palm, up the groin, all-body pat-down. In a stroke, the young man ascended to myth, or at least the next edition of Bartlett’s, warning the agent not to “touch my junk.” Not quite the 18th-century elegance…

A Moratorium on Controversy Requires Postponement of Change

By Justin Katz | November 16, 2010 |

So a group of gay conservatives and some Tea Party figures are urging the Republican Party to keep away from social issues while they’ve got a role in untangling our big-government mess. One particular comment highlights, in a humorous way, the strange assumptions that social liberals make about the universality of their causes: “When they…

Hitchens Splendidly Rips Apart the President’s “Enemies” Remark

By Monique Chartier | November 13, 2010 |

… twelve days ago in Slate. Keep in mind that this dissection is carried out by a supporter of President Barack Obama. Christopher Hitchens voted for the president and, elsewhere in this article, states his readiness to defend the president and his policies during the campaign. (Hitchens points out that he was pre-empted from doing…

Where the Jobs Are

By Marc Comtois | November 12, 2010 |

First, according to USA Today: The number of federal workers earning $150,000 or more a year has soared tenfold in the past five years and doubled since President Obama took office…Federal workers earning $150,000 or more make up 3.9% of the workforce, up from 0.4% in 2005….Since 2000, federal pay and benefits have increased 3%…

What a difference: Chafee versus Christie

By Donald B. Hawthorne | November 10, 2010 |

RI governor-elect Chafee. NJ governor Christie. Night and day. Prepare yourself for the next generation of Kremlin-style lies from the RI NEA and recall how Anchor Rising publicly destroyed their lies several years ago in East Greenwich – here and here. ADDENDUM #1: More Christie here, here, here, and here. You just have to watch…

Letting People Help Themselves, and Each Other

By Justin Katz | November 10, 2010 |

The line that I’ve italicized from an article by John Miller that profiled then-Senate-candidate Marco Rubio in an October issue of National Review helps to explain why Rubio won, and why conservatives are so excited about it: Rubio’s favorite subject is American exceptionalism. It’s at the heart of virtually everything he says, whether he’s addressing…

Winning Without Winning

By Justin Katz | November 9, 2010 |

Jeffrey Anderson offers some context for the Senate election results: In the midst of a resounding national rebuke at all levels of government, the Democrats have been taking some solace in having held the Senate. But to put the Republicans’ Senate gains this week into perspective, Republicans won an even higher percentage of Senate races…