I had the time to catch both Barack Obama’s speech on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan along with John McCain’s response today. The number of areas where they agree at this point is probably far larger than either would like to admit. One of the key points came not on the issue of Iraq – in which we all know where they both stand – but the future of our engagement in Afghanistan. They both seem determined to ratchet up the troop presence in that country to “finish the...

If you have a credit rating that’s not absolutely in the tank, you probably receive a regular flood of paper in your mailbox which gushingly declares that you are a wonderful person, trustworthy and responsible, and because of that you have been pre-approved (sound of horns blaring, balloons floating skyward and pigeons being released) for a credit card from their generous organization. These pre-approved, pre-screened or “firm” offers can arrive at a dizzying pace, and they likely...

Of the many issues which raged in the national debate during the 2004 election cycle but have since fallen down the memory hole, Social Security is surely one of the most curious among the missing. I have never counted myself among the masses crying out that the Social Security system is “hopelessly broken” or needs to be scrapped entirely. However the inversion from an era when a large number of workers were supporting a proportionally smaller number of retirees to the emerging period...

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I opposed the Iraq war from the beginning and still seek the quickest, safe, sane exit from that area which can be managed. With this in mind, I was glad to see that Barack Obama took the time to pen an editorial in the New York Times providing (at least some) details of his plans for our involvement in that region. Unlike many of his detractors, I have not seen a vast amount of “flip flopping” on the subject by Obama beyond some of the usual...

Important research work is being done year around in Antarctica involving climate change studies, atmospheric research, oceanographic science and the life cycle of penguins. These are all important topics to Americans during this election, and I fail to see how John McCain can be taken seriously as a candidate unless he agrees to go spend a month at McMurdo Station to meet and talk with the workers and directors of these projects. Sound rather silly? I suppose so, but I couldn’t keep that image...

Surely two of the great things about being George Will are the facts that he’s not running for office and that he has about the same level of job security as a Supreme Court Justice or the Pope. This allows him the luxury of saying some really unpopular things, particularly when they are true. During the roundtable section of George Stephanopoulos’ show, Phil Gramm’s remarks on “a nation of whiners” were brought up, prompting George Will to jump into the breach. Of course,...

I’m sitting here watching Ms. Fiorina on Meet the Press, responding to a question about Phil Gramm’s “inartful” statements on the recession this week. This has to be one of the all time great moments in American political television. (Transcribing as it goes, so this may not be word for word accurate.) “I don’t think Americans are paying attention to what’s being said by campaign surrogates. They’re paying attention to what’s being said by the...

According to a rather amusing analysis from the Sun Sentinel the hot seller in Florida right now is the Democratic Party, who are “outselling” the Republicans in terms of new voter registrations by more than a two to one margin. An escalating number of voters registering as Democrats is providing evidence that the 2008 election could produce a wave of support for Barack Obama — and trigger a decades-long shift of party allegiance that could affect elections for a generation. The numbers...

Some very sad news from the war today. The remains of two U.S. soldiers kidnapped more than a year ago in Iraq were found and are back in the United States, according to the father of one of the soldiers. The military has not yet issued a public confirmation, but Ramon “Andy” Jimenez said in a broadcast interview that officers visited his Lawrence, Massachusetts, home to tell him the body of his son, Sgt. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, was found. Gordon Dibler spoke of waiting for news of his stepson...

Nearly everyone, including the least qualified among us, likes to play constitutional scholar every once in a while. It’s a fun hobby and generally harmless. With that in mind, there are some interesting facts and observations brought up in this New York Times article where Prof. Gabriel J. Chin of the University of Arizona revisits the question of John McCain’s constitutional qualifications to serve as president. The analysis, by Prof. Gabriel J. Chin, focused on a 1937 law that has...

I have, on occasion, heard complaints about the state of democracy in America. Some may, in fact, be thinking about moving to a better democracy… and we hold up a few examples of our efforts to spread democracy (with a small “d” please) around the globe. Let’s see if you can fill the bill for the following. In order to be a full citizen, you can: 1. Have lived in the country prior to a certain year. 2. Prove that you were born in the country (so you can’t emigrate to...

Our fearless Editor-in-Chief is on the road this week in some Internet-unfriendly environs, but here are some of the interesting stories coming over the transom. Will Jesse Jackson be neutering Barack Obama? Rick Moran thinks it’s much ado about nothing. This is basically a story about a racialist who sees an ascendant Obama as a threat to his little white guilt extortion racket and expressed his frustration at the fact that if Obama is elected, it will be harder to maintain his position in...

As reported by The Hill, an ethics complaint has been filed with the Senate Ethics Committee and the FEC regarding Barack Obama’s home mortgage. Judicial Watch, a conservative legal watchdog group, filed the report after The Washington Post reported that Obama received a discount on a mortgage for a Chicago home valued at $1.65 million. The complaints said the Illinois senator received a loan at the interest rate of 5.625 percent, which Judicial Watch says is lower than the standard rate of...

In a previous column, several readers took me to task over my assertion that Senator McCain seemed to have put forward a more sensible, comprehensive set of proposals for both U.S. energy policy and the economy. (These days the two are linked to the point of being inseparable.) Today I would like to take a more comprehensive look at the stated positions, voting records and campaign trail statements of the two primary candidates on some of the key energy initiatives. Both are making admirable calls...

We’ll return to domestic policy analysis later today, but let’s take a look at the immediate response from the two campaigns regarding Iran’s test firing of long range missiles last night. First up, the McCain response. “Iran’s most recent missile tests demonstrate again the dangers it poses to its neighbors and to the wider region, especially Israel. Ballistic missile testing coupled with Iran’s continued refusal to cease its nuclear activities should unite the international...

I was just taking a look at the new John McCain campaign ad and a review of it by Ed Morrissey over at Hot Air. The ad is called, simply enough, “Love.” Before I prejudice your opinion, click on the play button below and see what you think. This ad is drawing a clear contrast between two different types of “love” in the sixties. Ed chooses to describe it as a contrast of “philos vs. eros”. I see the contrast being drawn, but the effect looks rather dubious....

Vacation offers a chance for reflection and introspection, (perhaps too much?) and mine has been no exception. While catching up on the news around the political sphere, I have found a heavy dose of my typical old cynicism sneaking up on me. A major portion of this has come about regarding the shifting tides of the Obama campaign. While I still swear no fealty to either party, in the early days of the campaign I must admit that I had been swept up in a wave of hopefulness. Upon first hearing Barack...

The “conventional wisdom” – if there is such a thing these days – insists that Barack Obama should hold off on naming his running mate until shortly before the convention later this summer. The valid reasons for this are many and, having been covered extensively already, need not be repeated here. But the time may be approaching for the candidate to eschew that advice and move to fill the VP slot earlier. The reason comes in that one word which simply will not go away and...

On the occasions when I find myself thinking about Rick Moran, (which are likely far more frequent than is healthy for one’s mental well being) I can not help but dwell on the word savant. Rick is the raconteur in charge of Right Wing Nuthouse, a contributing columnist at The American Thinker, and the recipient of numerous accolades and awards, not the least of which being the prestigious 2007 Aldous Huxley Prize, category: Best Use of the Word Nebraska in an Obituary for a non-Nebraskan....

It’s not often that I dedicate any virtual ink in this space to the editorial work of Nicholas Kristof, but this week he attempted to address an uncomfortable yet important subject in his column, The Truth Commission. The subject matter, unfortunately, is one where we are unlikely to find any fertile ground for an open, honest discussion between opposing sides. The reason? The author leaps directly, with no hint of subtlety, to the phrase “war crimes” as employed by Antonio Taguba...

I saw a flurry of online articles, posts and news stories regarding something that seems to have happened on July 4, (I didn’t catch precisely what it was) but it is dismaying that so few outlets are covering the real anniversary of note, which is July 5. It was on this date, 62 years ago, that Louis Reard unveiled the bikini. (Inventor credit also goes to another Frenchman, Jacques Heim. This earth shattering event took place at a swimming pool in Paris, France called the Piscine Molotor,...

Will Smith’s long awaited movie Hancock opened this week as a box office dollar bonanza, but was received by critics with a disappointed sigh. The film was as bold in its initial concept as it was flawed in execution, but I believe it still merits a look from any true movie fan. The film’s intriguing plot, though, has sent my mind on another of those dangerous flights of fancy. What does society do with a super hero who utterly fails to live up to some chivalric standard as a defender...

I was just reading one of many glowing proclomations on this, our Nation’s birthday, exhorting readers to remember the greatness of our nation, the ineffable wisdom of the founding fathers and the sacrosanct nature of the documents they left to guide through the centuries. And, of course, there is much to love about America today. But it is also worth remembering as we celebrate this holiday that most of us who grew up in middle of the last century received a somewhat sanitized version of...

(WARNING: May contain non-political content.) For those of you who may not know, I’m currently off on vacation. The picture above is the view from my window in the evening, just as the moon was coming up. It is only through the miracle of modern satellite technology that I’m able to check in with you, as the word “remote” only begins to describe my current location. It’s on the rocky edge of a mountain lake at the northern reaches of the Adirondack Range, not far from...

I do not agree with all of the cases where opponents of Barack Obama have characterized him as “flip flopping” on various issues, and throwing various people or subjects “under the bus.” (And no, I do not subcribe to “This Week in Bus and Driver“) However, it certainly does appear that the Illinois Senator has once again taken up the issue of gay marriage and done a double back flip, pike position with a half twist. In a letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic...