Government Ethics
S. 3357 seeks to cut the rotten parts from our political system by addressing an Elizabeth Warren crisis. The buzz has been growing about her possible run for the White House, so we should ask how much of what the senator wants in this doomed to fail anti-corruption legislation is about her political campaign, how much is about Democrats taking down a president, and whether either one justifies proposing this sweeping ethical boondoggle that clearly targets conservatives.
This Is Not Who We Are: Dems Seek Gain from New Tragedy
Politicians frequently tell us what we believe and what we stand for. Often their remarks are preceded by something like “this is who we are” or “this is not who we are.” What they really mean is “this is how you should think.” The tragedy at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh yesterday gave us examples of each. A few stand out to unequivocally show what “this is not who we are” means.
Civility Rules? House Commitment Signers Choose Hostility
Can we politely agree that political losers don’t have any reason to be civil? That includes minority House Democrats who signed a commitment yet play by their own unique set of civility rules that don’t place outright hostility and disrespect off limits, especially when they are directed at the president.
Sentencing Reform Bills Won’t Help the Guilty by Accusation
The current push for sentencing reform bills is a lucky thing for felons who have secured a voice on Capitol Hill even though they are locked up and can’t vote. It doesn’t do anything for the most maligned figures of all, those unfortunate individuals caught in congressional crosshairs because they have been tapped by the president for a prized appointment. In our social climate of de facto guilt for white males accused of sexual impropriety it is very easy to be tried, convicted, and ruined without ever being charged with a crime. Just ask Brett Kavanaugh.
Not Normal, Not OK for Democrats to Threaten War
It’s not normal and not OK to threaten the American people with war in the Middle East, but that’s the path Democrats have chosen. Every signal coming from Kim Jong-un and North Korea tells us that appeasement is a losing strategy and that credible threats can yield a positive outcome. Sure, this is old school foreign policy that’s out of place in the age of get along no matter the cost, but it works.
Prejudice Against Trump’s Base From Congress is Intolerable
Prejudice and discrimination are only intolerable when they don’t serve a political purpose, so Democratic Party politics make it perfectly acceptable to stir up prejudice against the nearly 63 million Americans condemned for being “Trump’s base.”
Bipartisan Senate Agreement Challenges National Interest
House Republicans introduced H.R. 4760 the day before the s*** storm erupted over Trump’s White House immigration meeting. The Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 offers three more years1 of deferred action without extending any protection to criminals and gang members.