The Cato Institute’s Doug Bandow writes, “There are plenty of reasons to criticize President Obama and his cast of liberal but incompetent hawks, However, he’s got Cuba policy right in contrast to Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, and most of the GOP presidential wannabes. It long ago was evident that the embargo had failed and deserved […]
Archives for December 2014
Christmas in Flanders Fields
This past weekend, Dick and I went to Symphony Hall with two of our grandchildren to enjoy the Boston Pops. Among the highlights of the festive holiday performance was a reading by Karen MacDonald of A Soldier’s Carol: The Christmas Truce of 1914. Through a combination of music and story, the nine-minute narration recreated the […]
McCain & Graham Misfire on Cuba
The two are quoted here in the National Interest “It is about the appeasement of autocratic dictators, thugs, and adversaries, diminishing America’s influence in the world. Is it any wonder that under President Obama’s watch our enemies are emboldened and our friends demoralized?” Exactly which enemies and friends are the senators referring to? Saudi Arabia and […]
Vermont—the Canary in the O’Care Coal Mine
Dick and I have spent untold miles on our Harleys riding in pastoral Vermont—still largely covered by verdant forest—with its scenic roads, quaint villages, acres of rolling farmlands and apple orchards, covered bridges, and views minus billboards (yes, there are no billboards). Combine this with Vermont’s charming inns and enthusiastic farm-to-table movement, and you have […]
Reagan Best President, Obama Worst
The Cato Institute’s Dan Mitchell recently posted an excellent “Good News on Young People and Gun Control.” Dan ran the numbers from a PBS poll (not exactly a gun crowd) answering the question, “Would you support more restrictions on guns in your state?” An astounding 95.09% of those responding answered no. Previously, Dan ran a […]
A Four Freshmen Christmas
I have been listening to The Four Freshmen since the early fifties, but the group actually began in 1948. The original Four Freshmen that fans remember so well included Ross and Don Barbour, cousin Bob Flanigan, and Ken Albers. The last original member, Flanigan, retired in 1993. Bob owned the name and managed the group […]
People Will Die
Will the Supreme Court justices “twist themselves into John Roberts-like pretzels” to avoid upending Obama’s signature legislative accomplishment, asks Cato Institute’s Michael Tanner. Next spring the Court will rule on whether subsidies for Obamacare are to be allowed, and, in anticipation of the ruling, the hysteria is already beginning. Should the justices rule to uphold […]
Jeb Bush For President?
I guess if you were a fan of the thinking of the former Project For a New American Century, Jeb Bush would be a perfect fit. But count me out. It would be instructive to hear Jeb’s views on his allegiance to PNAC as well as on his brother’s Iraq/Afghanistan strategy and the outcomes. Bloomberg […]
VIDEO: $45/ bbl. Oil?
Former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson thinks so.
Confiscating Wealth and Controlling Income
Originally posted November 25, 2014. Why is inequality a symptom of economic problems? Should any of us care if some people get rich and others get even richer? Wouldn’t a more distressing problem be if we all became poorer? John H. Cochrane, professor of finance at the University of Chicago and an adjunct scholar at […]