National Politics
Granted, Randal Edgar begins his report with equivalence between political parties, but it’s still surprising to see Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s offensive remarks achieve front-page, above-the-fold status in the Providence Journal. If anything, however, that attention only makes me more wary of our all-too-natural reaction. I’ve absolutely no doubt that Whitehouse derives enjoyment out of writing…
The Democrats are clearly in grabbing mode, and this sort of thing is not going to stop until we citizens of the United States make it stop: President Barack Obama’s Democratic allies in the House Wednesday muscled through a year-end plan to create jobs, mixing about $50 billion for public works projects with another almost…
A running interest of mine is the way in which individuals pile conclusions upon impressions upon experiences upon predispositions in such a way as to live as if in totally different worlds. Last week’s WRNI Political Roundtable piqued that interest with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley’s heavily couched compliments of President Obama. The following…
Mark Perry observes (with charts) a progressive trend in American taxation: The Tax Foundation reported last week that more than 143 million individual income tax returns were filed in 2007, and 46.6 million of those returns had a zero or negative tax liability, setting a new record for the number of “non-payers.” This group represented…
Today’s been a bit of catchup, for me, as a means of remaining productive despite an utter lack of motivation. But I just had to break my rainy-day malaise to note this odd phenomenon, during a recession (emphasis added): In a surprisingly suspenseful vote, the Senate cleared a key parliamentary hurdle yesterday on a huge…
Now this is interesting: Perhaps the greatest measure of Obama’s declining support is that just 50% of voters now say they prefer having him as President to George W. Bush, with 44% saying they’d rather have his predecessor. Given the horrendous approval ratings Bush showed during his final term that’s somewhat of a surprise and…
Periodically, one picks up a hint from the libertarian quarters of the broader tea party movement that they see, in it, an opportunity to assert economic conservatism apart from social conservatism. As I noted while observing the size and diversity of the crowd at the marriage-vow-renewal ceremony hosted by the National Organization for Marriage –…
Gratifyingly, Democrats in Congress and the Obama Administration have reacted to this government panel’s recommendation by setting land speed records distancing themselves from it. But in view of the public outrage that ensued, a scapegoat had to be identified. Who appointed the members of this panel?? Brace yourself. Because, of course … It’s George Bush’s…
Rep. Patrick Kennedy gives the impression of a politician sprinting to catch a departing train. Take as evidence of the impression the fact that Patrick Crowley loves this clip of Kennedy in action while filling his seat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee: No constituents to the right of the aforementioned progressive union…
Thanks to President Obama’s stimulus package, RI’s 86th Congressional District has netted $10.2 million in aid and has had 58 jobs created (or saved)! The district, which encompasses the Williams and Franklin households in Ashaway, was given funds based on a proposal to open a low footprint, “green” factory for the manufacture of 100% eco-friendly…