Editor’s note: This article was written exclusively for Forbes by the Center’s fellow for economic and social policy. Click here to read the article at Forbes.com»
American History & Presidents
On Hope and Hate: Week One of Obama v. Romney
Something wonderful unfolded in American politics the last few days. Almost immediately after Rick Santorum dropped out of the Republican presidential hunt, David Axelrod and the Obama reelection team unleashed the class-warfare cannons. They expected to enjoy the first salvo … Continue reading
The GOP: A Party in Flux
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared at Forbes.com With Rick Santorum having dropped out of the race, Mitt Romney is apparently the Republican nominee for POTUS, barring a “black swan” event swooping down out of nowhere. Why has the Republican Party … Continue reading
Sick Chickens and Sick Laws
When President Obama made his famous declaration about how he was confident that “that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically … Continue reading
Obama’s Monumental Misunderstanding
President Obama recently complained about the possibility of the Supreme Court striking down Obamacare. He used the term “unprecedented” and was critical of “judicial activism” engaged in by “unelected” judges. In so doing, he showed his monumental misunderstanding of American … Continue reading
The Supreme Court Weighs Obamacare: Good Intentions vs. The Constitution
Editor’s note: This article was written exclusively for Forbes by the Center’s fellow for economic and social policy. Click here to read the article at Forbes.com»
Yes, Congresswoman Pelosi, We’re Serious: On the Constitutionality of Obamacare
America anxiously awaits the Supreme Court’s decision on Obamacare. At the core of the decision is a simple question: Is the “individual mandate” in Obamacare constitutional? And thus, is Obamacare constitutional?Several times during the debate and deliberation, my mind harkened back to the words … Continue reading
Easter and Heaven
As Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter, heaven is naturally on the minds of many. Recent polls indicate that between 75 and 90 percent of Americans believe that heaven exists, percentages that far exceed … Continue reading
A Whirlwind Tour of the Supreme Court’s Commerce Clause Jurisprudence
There is a widely held view that Congress has virtually unlimited power to legislate, especially concerning economic matters. Consider, for example, the passage of the controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act two years ago. While Congress’ power to regulate … Continue reading
Obama, the Russians, and Missile Defense: Historical Parallels
President Obama has caused quite a stir with a private comment made to Russian President Dimitri Medvedev. In discussing missile defense, Obama suggested he would be prepared to yield to Russian demands after the November election. “This is my last … Continue reading
Is the Health Care Law Constitutional? No, Strike It Down
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Neither Porter nor his firm are involved in the ACA litigation. This summer, the Supreme Court will decide whether Congress violated the Constitution when it enacted the … Continue reading
STREAMING VIDEO — Video Preview of Conference – April 19-20, 2012
Obamacare: Will It Withstand Constitutional Scrutiny?
The U.S. Supreme Court is now poised to review the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as “Obamacare.” The nine Justices will hear oral arguments totaling an unprecedented five-and-a-half hours beginning on March 26, 2012 and concluding on … Continue reading
The Election-Year Politics of Energy
Realizing that his popularity may decline as the price of gasoline rises, President Obama is barnstorming the country, emphatically insisting that drilling for more oil isn’t the cure for high gas prices and that wind and solar energy represent our energy … Continue reading
Santorum or Romney? Culture War or Class War?
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article first appeared at American Spectator. The question for Republicans right now seems obvious: Would you prefer Rick Santorum or Mitt Romney to run against Barack Obama? Well, it depends on whether you prefer … Continue reading
A Centennial Verdict on Progressivism (1912-2012)
Contemporary liberals fondly recall their progressive forebears from a century past, who railed against trusts and fought for social justice. Certainly, their forebears did much to make them proud; after all, who now could argue against measures that purified the … Continue reading
People Say the Darnedest Things
Those of you past a certain age may remember the old Art Linkletter show “Kids Say the Darndest [sic] Things.” The one I still remember was when Linkletter asked a little boy if he looked like his daddy. “No,” replied … Continue reading
Iran: Israel’s Options
Late in the summer of 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked the Air Force to plan a nuclear first strike on the Soviet Union. The plan involved 55 B-52 bombers hitting 80 targets to degrade Soviet Long Range Air Force … Continue reading
Sorry Mess: Presidential Apologies and Pardons
Much ink has flowed over the recent apologies from President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and General John Allen, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, following the burning of copies of the Koran … Continue reading
Hope vs. Despair: The Discussion is Coming
My colleague, Paul Kengor, wrote a brilliant article this week saying that Team Obama will try to cast the presidential election either in terms of class warfare—if Romney is the Republican nominee—or a battle over social issues, if Santorum gets … Continue reading