General
The Deficit Solution
There is a simple and easy solution to our nation’s budget deficit. It’s bound to work, because it relies on the tremendous energy and enthusiasm that the Tea Party movement has brought to politics. Here it is: All members of the Tea Party must give up any claim to government benefits, beginning with Medicare…
Read MoreHow Government Works
A couple of months ago an 80 year old man on Medicaid received a letter from Secretary of Health and Human Services Lanier Cansler’s department telling him his in-home medical care had been cut. He appealed the ruling, proved he needed the care, and won. But he still didn’t get it. What happened? …
Read MoreThe Politics of Principle
Michael Barone of Fox News made an astute point about Obama at this week’s John Locke luncheon. He said Obama is a very different president from Bill Clinton: Clinton was “unencumbered by principle,” while Obama is an “ideologue.” Now, “ideologue” is a loaded word. You could also say “principled.” You could apply the…
Read MoreThe Vatican and Victory Churches
The other morning at breakfast my friend Richard the intellectual laid down his newspaper and said, ‘I thought you told me you and Jack Betts were friends?’ I looked up. ‘We are.’ ‘Have you read his article in the newspaper this morning?’ I looked at the headline. ‘Well, Jack supports the Ground Zero…
Read MoreThe New Bev?
That was a flash of steel Governor Perdue showed, firing Kenneth Lay. And there may be more to come. John Hood of the John Locke Foundation said at the John Locke Luncheon Wednesday that a Republican legislature could be the best thing to happen to the Governor. She would no longer have to…
Read MoreTea Party Skunk
I thought it was my job to be the skunk at the garden party: yesterday’s John Locke Foundation “Headliners Luncheon.” Then Mr. Herbert Hoover Rosser (yes, his real name) stood up. I was the token Democrat on the panel. The other panelists and audience members were savoring the prospect of big Republican wins come…
Read MoreGary Responds to Carter’s Response
Carter, if you and I are going to start being all reasonable with each other, we’re going to lose our readers! Your response poses a question I can’t begin to answer: How will Muslims around the world interpret it if we let the Islamic community center go up? (Though I would be happy…
Read MoreThe Main Attraction
Today’s N&O story by Jay Price and Mandy Locke captured a telling vignette from the competing political rallies by the “Spending Revolt” bus tour and Organizing For America: Both featured videos of President Obama. It reminded me of a conversation I had with a thoughtful Republican. He opined that the anger driving this year’s…
Read MoreThe Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight
A few years ago the Department of Health and Human Services set out to reform mental care and wrecked it. Next it set out to reform in-home care for Medicaid patients and wrecked it. And, now, itâs got another â $265 million dollar â train wreck on its hands. Back before he…
Read MoreCarter Responds to Gary
Now, Gary, that’s what I call a reasonable response. And you’ve raised a good question: Does building the mosque at Ground Zero make it easier or harder to win the War on Terrorism? The theory that building the mosque takes us a step closer to victory, it seems to me, goes like this: By…
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