National Politics

The Distressing Versus the Frightening

By Justin Katz | September 20, 2009 |

The rapid transformation of this country into a European-style socialist democracy is certainly distressing. American life is on its way to becoming more difficult and less free, less innovative — in a word, less American. But it is the combination of that atrophy with the existence of nations seeking to duplicate the international accomplishment of…

Jon Stewart’s Take on the Expose of ACORN

By Monique Chartier | September 19, 2009 |

Courtesy Comedy Central’s Daily Show. [H/T NewsBusters.] The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c The Audacity of Hos www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Healthcare Protests

Curbing Somebody’s Enthusiasm: Some Facts to Reassure Speaker Pelosi

By Monique Chartier | September 19, 2009 |

Once again, instead of a substantive discussion about policies, the focus is on feelings – this time, fear. “I wish that we would all, again, curb our enthusiasm in some of the statements that are made,” Pelosi said Thursday. Some of the people hearing the message “are not as balanced as the person making the…

Ignoring the Lesson Plan

By Justin Katz | September 19, 2009 |

One of the topics that came up on last night’s Violent Roundtable was the failure of mainstream commentators to leaven their mockery of conservative concern about President Obama’s in-school presentation with an acknowledgment of the objectionable suggested lesson plan that stoked the ire in the first place. Host Matt Allen suggested that bias leads such…

The Obama MO?

By Justin Katz | September 18, 2009 |

With the economy at best slowing its wobble (and reason to be wary even about that), the Obama administration has added requirements for “better gas mileage for cars and trucks and the first-ever rules on vehicle greenhouse gas emissions” to its list of desired drags thereon. Note this now-familiar feature: The proposal will cover vehicle…

House joins Senate in De-Funding ACORN

By Marc Comtois | September 17, 2009 |

The U.S. House of Representatives has joined the Senate in overwhelmingly voting to defund ACORN after recent voter fraud allegations and a grassroots undercover investigation revealed a willingness by ACORN operatives in various states to encourage breaking U.S. law. This follows a decision by the Census Bureau to bar ACORN from assisting in the 2010…

Wherefore ACORN?

By Monique Chartier | September 14, 2009 |

A third ACORN office has been videotaped giving tax evasion and federal mortgage application tips to a couple who purported to be establishing a brothel for underage girls smuggled into the country. This follows upon the exposure in 2008 of multi-state, multi-year voter registration fraud. The Brooklyn District Attorney has opened an investigation into the…

Succinctly summarizing today’s conflict

By Donald B. Hawthorne | September 12, 2009 |

Mike Pence says it well: I am Mike Pence. I am from Indiana, and it is an honor to welcome the largest gathering of conservatives in American history to your nation’s capitol. There are some politicians who think of you people as astroturf. Un-American. I’ve got to be honest with you, after nine years of…

One simple question and then some reflections

By Donald B. Hawthorne | September 9, 2009 |

In advance of President Obama’s speech tonight about healthcare, I have one simple question – If a government-run option is such a good idea for all of the rest of us, why do Obama and the Congress refuse to sign up for it themselves? On a related note, Ponnuru discusses the Left’s disregard for truth.…

Quick Clarity on Health Care Debate

By Marc Comtois | September 8, 2009 |

Congress is back after a 40 day recess. A lot has happened–namely, bi-partisan “comprehensive health care reform” looks dead–but there will be much discussion over the next few weeks. The Washington Post (h/t) oofers a summary and preview, including this helpful bit from Republican Congressman Mike Pence: House Republicans, who held hundreds of their own…