Will Facts Drive Policy, or the Other Way Around?

One of the Democrats’ chief criticisms of the Bush Administration, one that sometimes had merit, was that it refused to alter its strategy or message in the face of new facts.  In foreign affairs, that meant it took us three years to react to the Iraqi insurgency in a manner beyond “staying the course.”  On [...]

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Stimulating Religious Discrimination

Senator Jim DeMint has highlighted a nasty little morsel in the Democratic stimulus legislation: (2) PROHIBITED USES OF FUNDS.—No funds awarded under this section may be used for— (C) modernization, renovation, or repair of facilities— (i) used for sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity; or (ii) in which a substantial [...]

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Republicans Need to Convert the Negative to a Positive

Republicans on Capitol Hill have been remarkably successful at demonstrating that the current spendulous bill doesn’t stimulate anything.  The popularity of the bill has dropped from 45-34% to 37-43% in two weeks’ time.  Perhaps most troubling for Democrats is that, among independents, the bill is now supported by 27% and opposed by 50%.  Did it [...]

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The Politics of DOOM!11!1!!

What was that our new president said about ending the politics of fear? And if nothing is done, this recession might linger for years. Our economy will lose 5 million more jobs. Unemployment will approach double digits. Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to [...]

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Inevitable Failure, Infinite Excuses

One of the more troubling aspects of the Obama stimulus package is its subtle and flexible rhetoric of infinite excuses. The President claims that his $825 billion stimulus bill will “create or save 2.5 million jobs.” Sounds great, right? Makes you think that we’re going to get this economy going again by adding jobs to [...]

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