The Republican Party, odds-on favorites to win the House of Representatives in six weeks, are looking to the future by looking back at their playbook of the 1990s past — a campaign platform long on rhetorical flourishes and short on a coherent governing strategy, talk of a government shutdown to force the President to theContinue reading “On the Coming Impeachment of Barack Obama”
Tag Archives: Republican Party
On Constitutional Worship and Historical Trends
I have a friend — he and I go back over a decade — who, in the past two years, has turned into a rabid right-winger. He’s always been out there on the right, but ever since Obama was elected, he’s gone off the deep end. Obama is a socialist, a Marxist, a totalitarian fascist,Continue reading “On Constitutional Worship and Historical Trends”
On the Republican Party’s “Pledge to America”
A few days ago, the Republican Party unveiled A Pledge to America, their campaign for this autumn’s Congressional races. I downloaded the PDF. I printed it out. I read it on the train on Friday, only to wish that I were reading Clash of the Geeks instead. I’m a self-admitted policy and politics junkie, butContinue reading “On the Republican Party’s “Pledge to America””
On a Helpful Voter’s Guide
Who should you vote for this November? It’s a big election, an important election, and I’ve written about some of the things at stake in November. Fortunately, a voter’s guide is available to help voters on the fence make their decision in the booth: Voting is a sacred duty. Get informed. Be engaged. Vote! :spock:
On Economic Choices and Political Outcomes
After two days of political prognostication and analysis, I turn my attention to matters economic. The economy is in pretty dire shape — and has been since mid-2008. In President Obama’s first months in office, an economic stimulus bill was passed to inject some energy back into the economy. At the time, economists believed thatContinue reading “On Economic Choices and Political Outcomes”
On Counterfactuals, Tantrums, and the Expensive Orgy
Two political op-eds have captured my attention in the past day. They cover similar ground — the struggles of the Democrats this election cycle — in profoundly different ways. The Washington Post‘s Eugene Robinson, he writes in “The Spoiled-Brat American Electorate” that “registered voters say they intend to vote for Republicans over Democrats by anContinue reading “On Counterfactuals, Tantrums, and the Expensive Orgy”
On What’s At Stake In November’s Elections
Forty-five years ago Alabama governor George Wallace declared in his inaugural address a policy of “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” Opposed to the Civil Rights movement, rejecting federal authority, Wallace, an ardent racist and state’s rights advocate, sought to turn back the clock to an earlier era, but the genie of Civil Rights wasContinue reading “On What’s At Stake In November’s Elections”
On The Cordoba House Project
I’m thinking of converting to Islam, just to annoy a Republican. I’ve watched the news coverage the past month of the “controversy” over the Cordoba House project in New York City where a 13-story Burlington Coat Factory building two blocks from where the World Trade Center stood will be renovated into an Islamic community center.Continue reading “On The Cordoba House Project”
On Sarah Palin and the 2012 Election
Should Sarah Palin, the Republican Vice Presidential nominee in 2008 and the former governor of Alaska, run for President in 2012? Some Republicans want her to. And, curiously, some Democrats want her to as well. At the Netroots Nation Convention, a gathering of progressive activists, over the weekend, a straw poll there gave Palin theContinue reading “On Sarah Palin and the 2012 Election”
On the Tea Party and Their Place in History
Just when I think politics can’t get any stranger, a Congressional candidate in Alabama seems to be advocating armed rebellion. What bothers me is the bewildering lack of historical understanding on display here. Railing against a progressive income tax? Thomas Paine was in favor; read The Rights of Man where he devotes an entire chapter.Continue reading “On the Tea Party and Their Place in History”