Economists and pundits alike are going wild over the United Kingdom’s recent “double dip” recession. The 2008-09 recession prompted the election of a conservative coalition led by Prime Minister David Cameron. Cameron decided the best path for economic recovery was … Continue reading
Media & Culture
Allen West and His Critics
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article first appeared at American Spectator. Congressman Allen West (R-Fla.) is being heavily criticized for comments alleging that certain Democratic members of Congress are communists, and he is not backing down. West dared to … Continue reading
Energy: Pennsylvania’s Choice, America’s Model
We can’t drill our way to energy independence. Or so proclaims the president and many of his supporters. Here in Pennsylvania, the proclamation rings hollow; we are in the midst of a historic natural gas boom. Pennsylvania has an abundant … Continue reading
Teddy Roosevelt for President in 2012?
The 2012 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most significant elections in American history. The outcome of major political issues such as Obamacare, carbon regulations, and our looming fiscal calamity hang in the balance. In a larger … 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
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
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
Sorry Pennsylvanians, Your Primary Won’t Matter
Many Pennsylvanians who follow politics want the Keystone State’s presidential primary to matter. They observe the candidates in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and elsewhere holding rallies, visiting local diners, and kissing babies. They want some of that attention by … 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
Viral Video and International Justice
Can a viral video on the internet bring the world’s most wanted criminal to justice? This question is at the core of a video viewed more than 77 million times during the last week. Who is this most wanted criminal, and … 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
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
On Santorum, Democrats, and “God’s Will”
In case you didn’t notice . . . With George W. Bush out of office and a Democrat in the White House, the secular media stopped its handwringing over the president mentioning God. With Rick Santorum’s surge, the hysteria has … Continue reading
Readying Romney for the Class-Warfare Machine
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article appears at today’s American Spectator. If Mitt Romney gets the GOP nomination, prepare for a season of class warfare in America unlike any before. Not only has President Obama been pushing class warfare unceasingly for … Continue reading
Rick Santorum’s Rosetta Stone
Editor’s note: Lee Wishing will be a participant in an April 19-20 conference hosted by The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College on “The Challenge 2012: The Divided Conservative Mind.” I live in Western Pennsylvania, just across … Continue reading
Counting the Year’s Blessings
Have you heard any good news lately? Bad news abounds. It’s been another tough year. Economic woes continue. Greece and Italy are on the verge of bankruptcy. Unemployment is still high in the United States (around 8.6 percent), and the … Continue reading
The Five Best Christmas Movies: And the Gift of Grace and Renewal
Let’s have a happy debate: What are the five best Christmas movies of all time? Obviously, tastes differ and change over time. Here are my five favorites, the ones I am willing to watch every Christmas season, starting with number … Continue reading
America’s Orwellian Liberalism
The ink was barely dry on the asterisk in Jimmy Hoffa Jr.’s rant about taking out those “sons-of-b*tches”—referring to Tea Party members—when the vice president made his own contribution at a Labor Day rally. “This is a fight for the … Continue reading
On Steve Jobs, Roseanne Barr, and the Wall Street Mob
Editor’s note: This article first appeared at American Thinker. I got a double shock Thursday morning when I turned on my radio. “Steve Jobs has passed away,” I heard a DJ remark. “That’s a shame.” Yes, it is a shame. … Continue reading