Writing in National Review, Jim Geraghty tells readers that Trump’s populist appeal tends to “fall apart on closer inspection.” “Case in point: American policy in the Middle East, where Trump has in recent years repeatedly endorsed the bizarre, bellicose fantasy that the U.S could and should seize oil fields in Iraq and Libya.” In 2007, […]
RIP: Pedal-Steel Guitarist, Buddy Emmons
Pedal-steel guitar master, Buddy Emmons has passed away. NPR writes of Buddy: Country music wouldn’t sound like itself without the pedal-steel guitar, and the instrument sounds the way it does today because of Buddy Emmons, who died Wednesday in Nashville at 78. Though he might not be a household name, Emmons played on records for […]
Davis Bacon Act—Keeping Jim Crow Alive
From Cato Briefing Papers, 18 January 1993: Davis-Bacon was designed explicitly to keep black construction workers from working on Depression-era public works projects. The act continues today to restrict the opportunities of black workers on federal and federally subsidized projects by favoring disproportionately white, unionized and skilled workers over disproportionately black, non-unionized and unskilled workers. […]
The Real Jeb Bush?
Writing in The American Conservative, founding editor Scott McConnell offers some interesting perspective on Jeb Bush. Among Scott’s highlights are the following. Jeb has now reversed himself on Iraq, saying that he would “not have gone to war.” Jeb has added both leading neocon Paul Wolfowitz as well as “realist” James Baker to his list […]
Sugar Daddies in Congress
“The absurdity of the federal sugar program is legendary. Every year the government grants sugar processors nonrecourse loans linked to the amount of sugar the government says they can produce at a set price per pound,” writes the WSJ. Read more here about one of Washington’s worst business welfare schemes. Americans pay nearly twice as […]
Wisdom from The Intelligent Investor
Wisdom from Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor, first published in 1949: The most realistic distinction between the investor and the speculator is found in their attitude toward stock-market movements. The speculator’s primary interest lies in anticipating and profiting from market fluctuations. The investor’s primary interest lies in acquiring and holding suitable securities at suitable prices. […]
The VA Scandal and Obama’s “Swift Reckoning”
On Wednesday, President threatened to veto the Veterans Affairs Accountability Act, calling the bill “counterproductive” because it would cause “a disparity in the treatment of one group of career civil servants.” Not surprising, government employee unions are opposed to the act. It’s been over a year since the VA tragic mess was headline news. James […]
Police Repel Illegal Horde from England
French police blocked a horde of illegal immigrants from entering the EuroTunnel in Calais, France. The immigrants have come from all over North Africa and beyond to seek jobs and benefits in the U.K. America must learn here. First off, illegal immigration should never have been allowed to get so bad, either in the U.S. or in […]
A Tax Plan from Rand Paul
Over at The Hill, Lloyd Sloan sings the praises of Rand Paul’s tax plan, which is unlike any other seen in the Republican or Democrat field of candidates: Senator Paul’s plan calls for a 14.5 percent flat rate on income. It will replace today’s corporate taxes with a new 14.5 percent value-added tax. It eliminates […]
Iran Deal: GOP on Wrong Track
Writing in the American Conservative, Daniel Larison tells readers: Rejecting the deal (Iran nuclear deal) will be a liability for the GOP, and its impact will probably be most noticeable in the presidential election. The party’s general hostility to a major diplomatic success will make foreign policy issues more of a problem for the eventual […]