The full fury of the press corps has recently been directed towards the Obama administration and their investigations into two leaks – one looking into an AP story on a foiled terrorist plot, and the other, a Fox News story on North Korean nuclear tests. The two Department of Justice probes, while similar in scope, … Continue reading »
Tag Archives: Politics
Fidel’s Dove is Now Maduro’s Little Bird
The campaign for president in Venezuela began this past Tuesday with acting president Nicolás Maduro visiting Chavez’s house in the state of Barinas. During his visit, Maduro told the press another mystical story about Chavez appearing to him through a bird that flew over his head three times before delivering a message. During the interview … Continue reading »
The Issues Surrounding Chuck Hagel’s Defense Secretary Nomination
By William Lewis On January 7th President Obama announced that he was nominating Former Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska to be the next Secretary of Defense. Hagel served two terms in the U.S. Senate and was a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His nomination immediately caused a firestorm of criticism from Democrats and … Continue reading »
Can Mitt Romney win Ohio?
Before Hurricane Sandy derailed the Presidential race, I examined the possibility of a Romney Electoral College victory without winning the crucial battleground state of Ohio. I concluded that there were paths to victory that did not include Ohio and reasonable expectations that those paths are viable within the current polling framework. But while an Ohio-less … Continue reading »
When Politicians Talk About History
Historians rightfully get a bit leery when they hear politicians talk about history. All too often, history becomes a convenient rhetorical device for promoting a political agenda. Both parties maintain an arsenal of historical narratives which they enjoy reciting to the public. Here are some common fallacies… Notion of Progress: “We are enlightened and our … Continue reading »
Income Inequality and Education
Much has been made during the Presidential Campaign of income inequality and the undue influence of the so-called 1%. The quantifiable facts on income inequality are stunning, and it’s true that this reality can and will have a serious impact on both the American economy and social structure. Between 1979 and 2007, real household income … Continue reading »
The Politics of Healthcare Reform
It’s not often that an election is a major determinant to a single issue. Concerning the upcoming Presidential election, though, it “is all about health care.” One of the few things we know is true in this election is that if Barack Obama wins, the Affordable Care Act will be fully implemented. If Mitt Romney wins, we … Continue reading »
The Failures in Libya
When asked this past Sunday if the recent terrorist attack on American diplomats in Libya was an “intelligence failure,” senior White House Advisor David Plouffe said, “No, this was an event obviously … a complex event.” Let us ignore the obvious tautology of Plouffe’s remarks and his clear desire to obfuscate the issue instead of … Continue reading »
The Power Grab: Federalism Today
The growth and immersion of our government is not only felt by the people in our daily lives, but by the government itself. The states, each and every one of them, have felt the burden of new laws and regulations. Federalism, by rough definition, is a contract between several pre-existing groups or states that are … Continue reading »
Fact-Based Opinions: The User’s Manual
The game of politics. Some wish they could win it; everyone wishes they could understand it. Naturally, the game involves playing. (It is a game, after all.) So, it comes as no surprise when, during this political season, “Fact Checkers” pop up left and right. We laypeople need the plain truth, not the politicized version … Continue reading »