America at 250, why does progressive politics define the lives of so many of our fellow citizens, making them almost completely miserable?

Mountain landscape with sunrise on left and thunderstorm with lightning on right

As even Vox.com was honest enough to note, America in 1976 was in a far worse place than today, and yet Americans felt better about the country and the future. Before the results of the 2024 election were known on the evening of November 5, I encouraged everyone to remember their Billy Joel.  At the… Continue reading America at 250, why does progressive politics define the lives of so many of our fellow citizens, making them almost completely miserable?

If simple words like “temporary” don’t mean what everyone knows they mean, democracy is screwed

Antique brass balance scales with weights on old parchment paper

In 1990, Congress established a program for refugees that needed temporary relief, but somehow, almost no one admitted under the program ever left, the number admitted increased ten times in the past nine years, and proponents are now insisting they never should. In principle, I’m a supporter of the Temporary Protected Status program, which allows… Continue reading If simple words like “temporary” don’t mean what everyone knows they mean, democracy is screwed

America at 250, confessions of a late blooming patriot on the principles and personalities that founded the greatest country in the world

Group of people in colonial clothing walking in front of Independence Hall during sunset

It wasn’t until college when I was transformed by a James Madison quote, a timeless statement of truth, the equivalent of political poetry, illuminating something deep inside the heart of us all:  If men were angels, no government would be necessary. I’ll confess:  I wasn’t exactly a patriot early in life.  A born cynic, probably… Continue reading America at 250, confessions of a late blooming patriot on the principles and personalities that founded the greatest country in the world

The Democratic Socialists of America are devouring the Democrat Party, who are the real radicals now?

Voting ballots swirling in a tornado over a detailed city street map

While the conventional wisdom holds that the Republicans have become increasingly extreme, the Democrats keeping picking proud socialists to be their standard bearers, some of the most radical politicians in history on a major party ticket. For at least a decade, the conventional wisdom has held that the Republican Party has become increasingly extreme, moving… Continue reading The Democratic Socialists of America are devouring the Democrat Party, who are the real radicals now?

This is your Washington, DC Reflecting Pool on Trump Derangement

Lincoln Memorial with reflecting pool and Washington Monument on cloudy day

Vandals, hearings, lawsuits, pro-algae protesters, historians, pool experts, style experts, and more have all been brought to bear over renovations that have occurred consistently for more almost a hundred years. Sometimes, a seemingly minor situation, untethered from the broader sweep of history or human events, can be illustrative in a way great matters simply cannot,… Continue reading This is your Washington, DC Reflecting Pool on Trump Derangement

When good news is bad, the wisemen are all fools once again

Cracked 1887 coin on cracked ground with stormy city skyline and lightning

Two weeks in a row an economic report, first on jobs, then on retail spending, smashed expectations, only to be simultaneously dismissed as a positive trend and used as an excuse to raise interest rates. Two weeks ago, the moribund United States job market received a much needed jolt, when the May report from the… Continue reading When good news is bad, the wisemen are all fools once again

Newark is the next battle in the immigration war and there will be more blood if progressives have their way

Two groups of people in a tug of war, one side holds signs supporting immigrant compassion and welcoming policies, the other calls for strict enforcement and border security

After an explosive January in Minneapolis, the progressive war against immigration enforcement subsided until recently, but this time, at least some local Democrat politicians are trying to keep the peace while placating the protestors. Earlier this year, progressives took to the streets of Minneapolis to protest immigration enforcement efforts with what many believed was the… Continue reading Newark is the next battle in the immigration war and there will be more blood if progressives have their way

Reminder: Democracy continues to be whatever Democrats claim at the moment and that just happens to be what will make them more powerful

The U.S. Capitol building divided showing bright spring weather with green trees and water on one side and dark storm clouds, lightning, and rocky ground on the other

I’ve long maintained that politics is the pursuit of power, but it’s not everyday that politicians so clearly demand changing the rules of the game to suit their needs and democracy without rules isn’t democracy at all. Less than two weeks ago, Democrats were giddy that Virginia voters narrowly supported a referendum for a supposedly… Continue reading Reminder: Democracy continues to be whatever Democrats claim at the moment and that just happens to be what will make them more powerful

Why I don’t give a crap about the gerrymander wars

Brass balance scale with weights beside rolled scrolls and a quill

At this point, the only thing I really want to see is an end to the self-righteous sanctimony and an open admission that the gerrymander wars are what politics is always about, power, plain and simple. Last week Virginia upended the midterms by narrowly passing a referendum to the state constitution that allows for a… Continue reading Why I don’t give a crap about the gerrymander wars

Iran: Is it all over but the crying?

Line graph showing stock index growth from January to June 2024 with 18.7% increase

While we remain at war, why do the markets seem optimistic about the future when they should be pessimistic in the face of these concerns, and is this an optimism that can last or simply a calm in the storm?  Though last weekend’s peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan failed to produce a deal between the… Continue reading Iran: Is it all over but the crying?