Editor’s note: This article first appeared at The New York Times. It has been a tragically spectacular year for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which has taken control of numerous towns in Iraq and Syria, seized energy … Continue reading
Tag Archives: constitution
KAL 007 and MH17 … A Presidential Response
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article first appeared at The American Spectator. This generation has its KAL 007. The stunning downing of Malaysian flight 17 is strikingly similar to the shock of September 1, 1983, when the Russians … Continue reading
The VA scandal: Should we expand the federal failure?
Wikipedia has called it the Veterans Health Administration Scandal of 2014. An audit released in early June found that more than 120,000 veterans were left waiting or never got care, and that records were intentionally vague, misleading, and falsified. More … Continue reading
Privacy battles: as old as the Old Testament
Last month marked the beginning of a new campaign for Internet privacy with the unveiling of the “Reset the Net” campaign. Academics, tech companies, and civil rights organizations from around the globe, including Google, Mozilla, WordPress, Tumblr, and the Committee … Continue reading
President Obama’s Environmental Purity Agency
The rollout of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new draft regulation to limit greenhouse gases was accompanied by a brilliant political cartoon that showed a pair of hapless fellows with automobile mufflers protruding from their mouths, apparently to prevent any renegade … Continue reading
Hillary Clinton’s Move to the Far Left
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared in The American Spectator. A few years back I wrote a book on the faith of Hillary Clinton. To this day it jolts liberals and conservatives alike that I, Mr. Reagan … Continue reading
A Decent Respect: Renewing the Spirit of ‘76
July 4, 1776 gave birth to perhaps the most revolutionary political document in the history of civilization, submitted by men who proclaimed, “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, … Continue reading
Supreme Court Slows Obamacare’s Abortion Agenda
The Supreme Court waited until the last day of its term to issue its highly anticipated opinion in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores and Conestoga Wood Specialties. The narrow 5-4 decision negates the “contraceptive mandate” of the Health and Human Services … Continue reading
Obama appointments nixed
In a rare unanimous decision, all nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the outcome in NLRB v. Canning. The Supreme Court found that President Obama’s recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) were unconstitutional. However, … Continue reading
WWI and the Second Fall of Man
On June 28, 1914, a Bosnian-Serb student named Gavrilo Princip killed Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, the duchess. It was the shot-heard-round-the-world, unleashing a series of events that by August 1914 embroiled Europe in war. That deadly summer … Continue reading
Being “offended” does not constitute an “establishment” of religion: The Supreme Court and Elmbrook School District
The Elmbrook School District operates two public high schools in suburban Wisconsin. Finding that its own gymnasiums were cramped, hot, and uncomfortable, and at the request of students, it decided to move joint graduation ceremonies to a local Protestant church … Continue reading
Squawk On: U.S. Circuit Court green-lights discrimination case against the IRS
Can the Internal Revenue Service silence a president’s political adversaries by using secret policies? It seems that we’re about to find out. The 17th century French politician and finance minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, once quipped that, “The art of taxation consists in … Continue reading
As Putin’s confidence grows, Cold War concerns gain credibility
Editor’s note: This article first appeared at Forbes.com. Concerns about reigniting a Cold War gain credibility as Russian President Putin continues his militarism in Ukraine and draws his country into the ongoing crisis in Egypt. Thus, it is time to … Continue reading
America’s civil religion: Presidents and Memorial Day
Throughout American history presidents have often used religious rhetoric for various reasons: to provide comfort and consolation, argue that God providentially directs our nation, celebrate our Christian heritage, defend democracy, hold citizens and the country accountable to transcendent standards, help … Continue reading
TheBlaze Q&A: An interview with Dr. Paul Kengor
Editor’s note: A longer version of this Q&A first appeared at TheBlaze.com. What do you most hope that readers take away from your book? Kengor: I want Republicans and conservatives to understand the difference between conservatism, libertarianism, and progressivism. As to … Continue reading
Pending Supreme Court Rulings (Part Four) – Obama and Recess Appointments: NLRB v. Canning
In January 2012, President Obama appointed three people to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which is the federal regulatory board that determines whether or not certain labor practices have been unfair. Since 2008, it had been without the three … Continue reading
STREAMING VIDEO – 2014 – Distrust, Tyranny & the Bill of Rights
Dr. Ronald J. Rychlak, Butler Snow professor of law at the University of Mississippi, speaks before more than 125 guests at the American Founders Luncheon Series in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 18, 2014.
A Renewed Reagan Conservatism
Editor’s note: This article first appeared at TheBlaze.com. A rudderless Republican Party, afraid to assert itself in the face of a rising liberal/progressive onslaught. A confident Democratic Party in the White House, undermining the nation, its economy, and its foreign … Continue reading
Pending Supreme Court Rulings (Part Three) – “Will the First Amendment Protect the Religious Liberty of Businesses? The Cases of Conestoga Wood Specialties and Hobby Lobby Stores”
Conestoga Wood Specialties is a wood cabinets business located in Lancaster County, Pa. It is organized as a for-profit corporation and the voting shares are owned by members of a single family—the Hahns. They are Mennonite Christians. Conestoga has approximately … Continue reading
Ronald Reagan’s City of God
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Paul Kengor’s new book 11 Principles of a Reagan Conservative. Among the principles is faith. A version of this article first appeared at RealClearReligion.org. Conservatives constantly talk of freedom. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom. Go to … Continue reading