I keep reading more accounts of the Veterans Affairs hospital scandals and the proposed solutions, and I am about to tear my hair out (sorry, no “trigger warning” there for the violence). One commentator has suggested the the VA hospital system be abolished and veterans be given vouchers to “regular” hospitals. That is a very […]
Archives
-
Kill the Beast! Kill It!
29 May 2014
-
Ron Swanson Took My Politics Class!
01 May 2014
Ron Swanson took my politics class! In my introductory government class, I had an exam turned in by “Ron Swanson.” I am attaching pictures of this piece of genius that some student took the time to craft, either instead of, or in addition to, their examination. I have no doubt that if Ron Swanson, of […]
-
How to tell someone’s not serious about solving political problems. My short list here; what can you add?
30 Apr 2014
You know someone is not really concerned about carbon emissions if they reject natural gas and nuclear energy You know someone is not really serious about getting the deficit under control if they are in favor of near-term stimulus (more spending) and long-term spending cuts (i.e., when they are out of office) You know someone […]
-
Palin Enters Pelosi Territory
28 Apr 2014
http://youtu.be/A7vdAlzh-jo Truth is sometimes uncomfortable, especially for those of us who want to cheer, sometimes uncritically, for one “side” versus the other. Fandom and devotion can be truth’s enemies, even in the political realm. Our preferred labels often override anything resembling objectivity. At its worst, this practice degenerates into a justification of “us” as we […]
-
Head ’em Up, Move ’em Out
20 Apr 2014
The Cliven Bundy-Bureau of Land Management “range wars” have been all over the news lately—well, all over many news outlets. Even Harry Reid finally spoke up, and, as he usually does, in an obsequious manner and with such exquisite irony (which he probably didn’t catch). I now feel compelled to weigh in. The conservative news […]
-
Pelosi Washes Feet to Promote Immigration Reform
19 Apr 2014
When politics is paramount, nothing is sacred. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the U.S. House Minority Leader, joined a San Francisco priest, and other elected officials, in a foot-washing ceremony for immigrants. Stunningly, Pelosi also used the occasion to talk about passing HR15 – bipartisan immigration legislation that her office says would “reduce the deficit by nearly […]
-
Legislation, the deliberate making of law, has justly been described as among all inventions of man the one fraught with the gravest consequences, more far-reaching in its effects even than fire and gun-powder. Unlike law itself, which has never been ‘invented’ in the same sense, the invention of legislation came relatively late in the history […]
-
More Kudzu, I Mean Mission Creep
07 Apr 2014
Here in this article, http://watchdog.org/136244/federal-law-enforcement/, are some “classic” examples of Mission Creep in Federal agencies. Hard to believe? Maybe not.
-
Mission Creep: A Lot Like Kudzu
06 Apr 2014
If you have lived in or visited the South, you know about Kudzu, the weed that spreads along the ground in a most amazing way, the weed that never dies, or so it seems.. If it is not stopped in some way or other it continues to spread inexorably. It is hearty and doesn’t require […]
-
As Dr. Haymond noted in a previous post, the Supreme Court handed down McCutcheon v. F.E.C. today, which, in spirit, is a companion case to Citizens United v. F.E.C. in 2010. Both cases deal with the conflict between campaign finance reforms and Free Speech. We have a long history of campaign reform, including limits on […]
Bert Wheeler
Jeff Haymond
Marc Clauson
Mark Caleb Smith
Tom Mach