Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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news
New Hampshire Bill Would Institute 30-Day Residency Requirement to Vote
A bill has been passed by the New Hampshire state Senate that would require voters to reside in the state for 30 days before becoming eligible to vote. Senate Bill 179 was passed by the Republican-controlled state Senate in a party-line vote, and is currently in committee in the House. New Hampshire law currently permits… -
opinion
We Shouldn’t Be So Worried About Killer Robots
Intelligence failure—it’s one of the most common mistakes in war. And recently we learned that it led to the deaths of two Western hostages—one American, one Italian—in January. Quite simply, the CIA drone operators didn’t know that aid workers Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto were present at their target—an al-Qaeda compound near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. President… -
news
How Ohio Aims to ‘Set a National Race’ for Transparency
Last December, the Ohio State treasurer, Josh Mandel, launched OhioCheckbook.com, a website specifically dedicated to showing taxpayers exactly where their dollars are going. However the journey to this new endeavor wasn’t as simple. “I identified a problem in our state government that everyday taxpayers couldn’t see how money was being spent,” Mandel said at a… -
opinion
The Iran Deal Would Make the World a More Dangerous Place
Ever since Sept. 11, 2001, whenever Americans seem especially polarized over a controversial issue, you hear pundits recall how united we’d became in the aftermath of that vicious attack. Why, they ask, can’t we be like that again? A big part of the reason, frankly, is a lack of leadership at the top level. The… -
opinion
Wisconsin Home Invasions: When the Government Upends Democracy
Cindy woke up to a battering ram at her front door. She opened the door to a rushing mob of policemen, yelling and barging through her house with no explanation. She begged them not to shoot her barking dogs. Another had to wake her children with an armed policeman at the foot of their beds…. -
news
Disappointed Americans ‘Open to Conservatives Making Their Case,’ Jindal Says
Conservatives have an opportunity to present a clear alternative to the consequences of failed liberal policies that have become part of everyday life to Americans, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Friday. Jindal, a Republican presidential hopeful, elaborated on the theme during an extended segment of a question-and-answer session at the Ideas Summit hosted by the… -
news
Bad Nuke Deal With Iran ‘Almost Guarantees War,’ Rubio Warns
The Senate must review whatever deal the Obama administration strikes with Iran to delay its gaining a nuclear weapon, Sen. Marco Rubio said this morning, arguing that “a bad deal almost guarantees war.” The Florida Republican said Israel won’t accept an agreement that doesn’t recognize its right to exist, and shouldn’t have to, provoking applause…. -
opinion
Ex-Im Misrepresents Subsidies to Prominent Billionaire
The chairman of the government’s Export-Import Bank has repeatedly mischaracterized several deals that have benefited billionaire Elon Musk. These misrepresentations, among other mismanagement and dysfunction within Ex-Im, reinforce the case for ending the crony bank. In numerous speeches and “success stories” promoted in bank reports and press releases, Ex-Im Chairman Fred Hochberg has claimed that… -
opinion
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Addresses Joint Meeting of Congress
Wednesday, Prime Minster Shinzo Abe was the first Japanese Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of Congress. During his week-long visit to the U.S., Prime Minister Abe emphasized the strong relationship between the U.S. and Japan and pushed for completion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement. Abe began his address remembering his… -
opinion
Colorado Legislation Strikes Right Balance to Protect Pregnant Women and Their Unborn Children
Following the horrific attack on a 7-month pregnant woman in Longmont, Colo., The New York Times ran an opinion piece expressing opposition to a proposed fetal homicide bill, explaining that it would end up dramatically and unjustly restricting the freedom of pregnant women. Dynel Lane, the ex-nurse’s aide who cut an unborn child from her… -
opinion
The Growing Recognition of the Importance of Space
In a recent 60 Minutes story about U.S. Air Force Space Command and the threat to American satellites, correspondent David Martin intones, “Another thing that surprised us is that there’s no way to effectively armor an important satellite like this or to conceal its location from attack.” The program went on to note that China… -
opinion
There Is Growing Evidence Noncitizens Are Voting. Why Isn’t the Government Doing Anything?
Noncitizens are registering to vote and at best, it seems the federal government’s officials don’t care about this illegal activity. At worst, it raises questions about whether some in Washington support illegal voting, so long as it supports their political agenda. The exact number of noncitizens who are voting in our elections is difficult to… -
opinion
Iran Hijacked a Ship. The White House Should Demand the Release of Ship, Crew.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized a cargo ship Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz, after first firing a shot across the bow of the ship, Maersk Tigris, registered in the Marshall Islands. The ship issued a distress call before it was boarded, hijacked and diverted to an Iranian port. The U.S. Navy dispatched the… -
opinion
Anyone Can Be a Good Parent. That Doesn’t Mean We Should Redefine Marriage.
Justice Anthony Kennedy’s principal concern about Michigan’s defense of its man-woman marriage laws during Tuesday’s oral argument appears to rest on a simple misunderstanding of that defense. Michigan’s counsel, John Bursch, had pointed out that removing the man-woman definition of marriage would reduce the institution’s focus on procreation and, hence, children. Consequently, public understanding of… -
opinion
Time to End the Production Tax Credit Once and For All
If we want to build a healthier American economy, Congress must stop supporting special interests at the expense of our nation’s economic potential. The Production Tax Credit is a prime example of just how much this self-destructive pattern hurts competition, enables waste and works against the middle class. Created in 1992 as a temporary provision… -
news
Why Rick Perry Thinks This Presidential Run Will Be Different
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is taking a different approach four years after running for president. During a one-on-one interview with The Daily Signal in Iowa last weekend, Perry says he came in too overconfident back in 2012. “I was a little arrogant thinking that having been the governor of Texas for 12 years that… -
opinion
Yes, Justice Kennedy, States Can Decide Not to Make Marriage a ‘Dignity-Bestowing Institution’
During the oral argument in Tuesday’s marriage case, Justice Anthony Kennedy had a revealing and important exchange with John Bursch, the attorney—representing the state of Michigan—who argued for the freedom of states to make marriage policy. The exchange highlights the importance of letting the states decide for themselves, not only the definition of marriage, but… -
opinion
Don’t Use Trade Promotion Authority to Weaken the Dollar
Currency manipulation is one of the biggest issues in the congressional fight over Trade Promotion Authority. Previous versions of Trade Promotion Authority have included the reduction of currency manipulation by foreign governments as a U.S. negotiating objective for trade talks. Draft legislation just introduced strengthens that language, and critics are asking for more. The problem… -
opinion
How the ‘Right to Love’ Is Creating Hate
While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the rights of conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the judge of the hearts of men, and to him only in this case they are answerable. — George Washington, letter to Benedict Arnold, Sept. 14, 1775… -
opinion
Even Cost-Benefit Analysis Misses the Overall Impact of Regulation
In some cases, federal financial regulators have to consider the incremental impact of new rules and regulations. But they hardly ever are required to examine the cumulative effect of all previously implemented regulations. After decades of increasing federal requirements on financial firms, this weakness allows regulators to ignore an enormous burden on our capital markets….