It’s absolutely stunning to imagine after the GOP loss of the House that even a single Republican Senator could follow defeat with a refusal to agree with the president on something as basic as preserving our national sovereignty. On Thursday twelve GOP members of the Senate did exactly that when they sided with Democrats across the aisle and in the House to pass the Joaquin … [Read more...] about Republican Senators Back Castro Instead of Sovereignty
Conservatism
Is conservatism dying? Is it already dead?
The Republican Party is still the most viable force for pushing a national conservative agenda. It is also the biggest liability faced by American conservatism.
The left pushes a platform that seldom waivers backed by Democrats well-versed in machine party politics. Republicans are fragmented, a loose collection of conservatives with nowhere to go. They seem more determined to undermine each other than to implement the kind of vision that turns agenda into policy.
Right battles far right
The Republican failure to accommodate the right wing of the GOP is perplexing. Democrats are terrified of the potential of the far right and taunt the House with accusations of pandering to their more conservative elements whenever liberal legislative plans go awry. Charges that the Trump White House is backed by white supremacists are based on politicized incidents, but the left has successfully turned the fallout into a national trend.
Can conservatism survive the age of Trump?
Does conservatism have a future in this country? Donald Trump proved that the right rallies when it hears what it wants to hear. It is also true that conservative voters are their own worst enemies, distracted by divisive issues like gun control and abortion that sacrifice the big picture.
What is the Conservatism category about?
The conservatism category examines how we can reconcile the goals of America’s right with the tepid response we so often get from Capitol Hill. President Trump took the White House with promises that are not being realized by lawmakers in the House and Senate. If his agenda dies at the hands of majority Republican lawmakers, does conservatism still have a chance to survive?
Political Donations to the Republican Party are a Waste
The RNC showed up in my mailbox with its hand out. The solicitation for political donations to the Republican Party came disguised as a survey with a vaguely threatening "FINAL NOTICE” at the top of the page. An offer to contribute $1,000 or more was at the bottom. In between were a lot of questions that solidified my decision that donating to the party is a waste of … [Read more...] about Political Donations to the Republican Party are a Waste
Evidence-Based Policymaking a Desperate Ploy by Ryan
Evidenced-based policymaking is the perfect Washington contradiction. Using facts and data isn’t what politicians who make policy do. Their real talent is creating, distorting, or outright ignoring the truth to get what they want. Both sides do it and they aren’t very good at hiding it, whether the goal is creating a hate crime trend or rationalizing spending more money with … [Read more...] about Evidence-Based Policymaking a Desperate Ploy by Ryan
Work Requirement: Foreign Workers vs. Welfare State Americans
President Trump’s newly-announced plan to ban immigrants from receiving welfare for five years was an easy promise to make. Newly-arrived noncitizens don't qualify for most federal benefits and they aren’t the ones who cause us the most grief when it comes to being dependent on the government. Dependence is an issue for Americans who don’t work, so why are we telling them that … [Read more...] about Work Requirement: Foreign Workers vs. Welfare State Americans
RNC Great Again Survey: GOP Doesn’t Understand Greatness
The RNC Make America Great Again survey showed up in my mailbox one day after the Republican Party repealed its self-proclaimed mission to replace Obamacare. The appeal to greatness was printed in big, bold letters. The survey asked about optimism. It talked about being proud. The RNC asked for a donation to help get the job done. My anger over what happened on Friday turned to … [Read more...] about RNC Great Again Survey: GOP Doesn’t Understand Greatness