National Politics

Counting Every Ballot

By Justin Katz | November 17, 2009 |

The one straw at which Democrats and progressives could grasp after the election was the 23rd Congressional district in New York. And grasp it, they did. “Tea Party Over?” asked a Village Voice blogger. Matt Jerzyk declared it a “HUGE” victory for the Democrats that third-party, last-minute candidate Doug Hoffman had only come within a…

So is He Claiming to be Not Disconnected?

By Monique Chartier | November 14, 2009 |

Justin references a comment by Senator Whitehouse. To finish up, Whitehouse spoke about the apparent disconnect from reality that is exhibited by the Republican Party, whether it be about health care reform, or the climate bill, or same-sex marriage. On all of these issues, Senator Whitehouse has indicated that he will vote “yea” if/when the…

Grow up

By Donald B. Hawthorne | November 4, 2009 |

Real men don’t whine and make excuses. And they don’t dither, either. ADDENDUM #1: My first comment in the Comments section: Dithering on Afghanistan while American soldiers die. Meeting multiple times with Andy Stern of SEIU while not having time to decide on Afghanistan. Calling Afghanistan the important war in March before it wasn’t the…

Looks Like a Turnaround

By Justin Katz | November 4, 2009 |

We’ll hear all sorts of contradictory analyses, in the days to come, among which will be assurances that there are no broad conclusions to be drawn, but key votes up and down the East Coast, yesterday, certainly don’t disprove the notion of a turnaround toward our nation’s Republican, conservative strain: Republican Chris Christie took the…

Scozzafava’s Parting Shot Inadvertently Revealing

By Monique Chartier | November 2, 2009 |

Whatever happens in New York’s District 23 election tomorrow, Dede Scozzafava’s endorsement of her Democrat (former) rival will only confirm the reservations The Republican nominee, State Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, on Sunday endorsed the Democrat in the race, Bill Owens, after coaxing from the White House. of her critics about her Republican/conservative credentials, especially as she…

Noonan Now and Then

By Justin Katz | October 30, 2009 |

To a post on Peggy Noonan’s latest column, Glenn Reynolds appends a reader’s observation that Ms. Noonan should take some responsibility for helping her man, Mr. Obama, gain office. Indeed, a contrast of Noonan a year ago and now is instructive. October 30, 2008: The case for Barack Obama, in broad strokes: He has within…

Who’s Keener on Current Events?

By Marc Comtois | October 30, 2009 |

The pro-Republican results of the Pew Research Poll, “What Does the Public Know?,” (h/t) has led to some “rah rah” chatter on the right side of the blogosphere, partly inspired because the MSM isn’t covering the results the same as they did previous polls showing opposite results. True enough, self-identified Republicans performed better than Democrats.…

Societies We Can Imagine

By Justin Katz | October 28, 2009 |

Thomas Sowell pauses for a moment of disbelief at the conversation in America: Just one year ago, would you have believed that an unelected government official, not even a Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate but simply one of the many “czars” appointed by the President, could arbitrarily cut the pay of executives in private…

The Sweet Irony of Bumper Stickers

By Justin Katz | October 19, 2009 |

Driving into Providence for a photo shoot in the rain, yesterday, I parked next to the statehouse. Through the streaks in my windshield, when I climbed back into the van, I spotted this antiquated bumper sticker: The anti-Bush and anti-Republican stickers that also scarred the vehicle confirmed which regime the driver intended, but for a…

Just like a banana republic

By Donald B. Hawthorne | October 16, 2009 |

Power Line: Today the Obama administration’s “pay czar” demanded that Ken Lewis, Chairman of the Board of Bank of America, work for free. The “czar,” Kenneth Feinberg, pressured Lewis not only to forgo all remaining compensation for 2009, but to repay the $1 million he has already received this year. Lewis acquiesced, saying that “he…