The future of our ‘peaceful’ revolutions

Ever since Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans first wrested power from the Federalist Party of Washington and Adams, the world has marveled at the orderliness of America’s “peaceful revolutions.”

How long then will voters remain peaceful when their will is cynically undermined by partisan lawyers and willful judges whose lust to see their interests prevail eviscerates any pretense of respect to fair elections? (more…)

Thanksgiving recalls faith of our fathers

For anyone born in the last 50 years, “separation of church and state” is inculcated secular orthodoxy.  I well remember the family discussion during which my dad informed me that the phrase appears nowhere in the Constitution, and I recall spending the next two hours searching my history books in futility to prove him wrong.

That government is insulated from faith is a notion that survives only in historical ignorance.  Perhaps nothing disproves this fallacy more effectively than Thanksgiving Day, an official government holiday established for the purpose of acknowledging God’s blessing of America. (more…)

Our party failed, our principles didn’t

After being routed at the polls for two consecutive election cycles, Republicans are turning introspective, asking how the party fell out of favor so suddenly and how to correct course.

That introspection includes the inevitable catharsis that exacerbates tensions within the existing right-center political coalition.

Conservatives say moderates were too squishy, especially on spending matters.

Moderates say conservatives were too rigid, particularly on social issues.

Libertarians say both conservatives and moderates are correct in their diagnoses but wrong in their prescriptions. (more…)

Election reflections

As the dust settles after Election Day, it’s fair to say that Republicans deserved the thrashing we received. Unfortunately, some good Republicans (our own Bob Schaffer, to name one) lost undeservedly, and some embarrassments (Alaska Sen. Ted “7 Felonies and a Bridge to Nowhere” Stevens) won undeservedly.

Only time will tell if America will get what it expects from Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress.  We know, however, that many are destined for disappointment if only because so many expectations of Obama are irreconcilable with each other.

Polls indicate the public still desires fiscally conservative government and that Republicans were punished for failing to deliver on what should be our bedrock issue.  To Republicans who are frustrated that voters would turn to the party of even-bigger government, the message is clear:  voters want contrast, not a watered-down version of the Democrats’ agenda. (more…)

Teachers union dues back gay marriage, ACORN

A recent Wall Street Journal editorial noted that the National Education Association’s California chapter has contributed more than one-third of all money raised by opponents of that state’s proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as exclusively the domain of man-woman couples.

The high school dropout rate is 1-in-4 in California and 1-in-3 in the Los Angeles public school system … so you might think the California Teachers Association would have other priorities (than gay marriage).

Yet last week the union donated $1 million to the “No on Proposition 8” campaign.

“What does this have to do with education?” said Randy Peart, a public school teacher in San Juan.  “Why not put that money into classrooms, into making a better place for these kids.” (more…)

Freddie, Fannie mess rests at Dems’ doorstep

Cut through the doubletalk that obscures the financial mess in Washington and on Wall Street, and these points are obvious to everyone paying attention:

• Congress used the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to force banks to make risky loans to “help” people buy houses they could not afford.

• As early as 2001, President Bush and Republicans warned that Freddie and Fannie’s financial house was unstable and could wreak havoc on the economy.

• Fannie and Freddie spent more than $200 million lobbying Congress to ignore the problem.

• Subservient Democrats, like Barney Frank, dutifully declared that Freddie and Fannie were safe and sound and blocked reform. (more…)

U.S. Chamber figures out it’s in a fight

While many Colorado businesses are feeding the hand that bites them, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has figured out that it can’t count on Democrats to do what’s right for business if that inconveniences trial lawyers, labor unions, radical environmentalists or any other liberal-left special interest.

Kimberley Strassel’s Potomac Watch column in the Wall Street Journal notes that the U.S. Chamber may spend $40 million to help Republican efforts to deny Democrats a supermajority capable of overriding a filibuster and thereby passing the looney liberal wishlist. (more…)

Voters shouldn’t reward labor’s lies

Politicians and campaigns are masters of “spin” – selectively presenting facts in a way that leads the target audience to believe what the spin doctors want them to believe.

Like it or not, spin is unavoidable because everyone has a unique perspective, formed by their own experiences and beliefs.

But there’s spin, and then there are lies — outright, premeditated, willful lies that have no basis whatsoever in truth. (more…)

Initiatives do taxpayers no favors

“Government is the great fiction through which everyone endeavors to live at the expense of everyone else.” — Frederic Bastiat.

Contrary to popular belief, the citizen initiative process is not inherently – or even incidentally – conservative.  Like government, the initiative is merely a reflection of the attitudes and principles of the people.

Today, the people are not conservative – skeptical, irascible or cynical, perhaps, but not conservative. (more…)