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
Wisconsin Treasurer Fulfills Campaign Pledge by Laying Off Staff
MADISON, Wis.—Newly elected state Treasurer Matt Adamczyk ran on a campaign pledge of cutting 80 percent from a $545,000 annual budget. A few weeks into his first term, he has, through layoffs, already gotten rid of his two-member staff. Adamczyk also declined to fill an empty deputy treasurer position that was paying close to $107,000 a year in salary… -
opinion
Americans Are Rejecting Rule By Elites
The majority of newly elected members of Congress are men and women who ran and won in direct opposition to President Obama’s policies. But there is more to their victory than a triumph over liberal policies. The 2014 election also represents a repudiation of an attitude and style of governance that has become entrenched in… -
news
Kentucky County Sees Instant Impact of Right-to-Work Law
Six weeks ago, a Kentucky county passed a right-to-work ordinance in hopes of attracting new businesses. It already appears to be working. Warren County, Ky., adopted the countywide right-to-work ordinance on Dec. 19, after it became clear the state wasn’t going to move in that direction. Right-to-work laws prevent unions from having workers fired for… -
opinion
What the Death of King Abdullah Means for the US
The passing of King Abdullah and ascension to the throne of Crown Prince Salman has proceeded smoothly at a time when the Saudi kingdom faces growing challenges at home and abroad. King Abdullah, 90, compiled a record as a relatively liberal reformer who helped modernize the kingdom, reform its educational system and somewhat expand opportunities… -
opinion
We Need the Government to Leave the Private Sector Alone
In his State of the Union address, President Obama argued we need government policies to build “the most competitive economy anywhere.” He’s wrong. We need the government to leave the private sector alone so that it can build the most competitive economy anywhere. The president and his supporters don’t want to admit it, but the… -
opinion
Should Greece Exit the Eurozone?
Greece’s elections have elevated Syriza, a leftist party committed to higher government spending for its constituents and less cooperation with the rest of Europe. Syriza and its governing coalition might be willing to risk wrecking the Greek economy if Europe does not agree to make a large wealth transfer (in some form or another) from… -
news
Operation Choke Point Explained In One Minute
What is Operation Choke Point? The Daily Signal explains in one minute. -
opinion
Progress Made on Nuclear Waste Management
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) yesterday completed the last two of five volumes in its safety evaluation report on a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. While the NRC has yet to finish the licensing process for Yucca Mountain, this report ultimately allows the nation to move forward with a long-term plan for managing nuclear… -
news
Here Are 33 Tweets About Mitt Romney’s Big Announcement
Mitt Romney won’t be running for president in 2016. Speaking to supporters today, the former governor and 2012 Republican nominee said, “After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, I’ve decided it is best to give other leaders in the party the opportunity to become our next nominee.” >>> Romney Gives Way to… -
news
Romney Gives Way to ‘Other Leaders,’ Takes Himself Out of 2016 Race
Mitt Romney has decided not to make a third run for president, he told supporters in a conference call this morning. Talk show host and commentator Hugh Hewitt broke the news minutes before the former Massachusetts governor’s call from New York began. “After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, I’ve decided it… -
opinion
Taylor Swift Just Trademarked ‘This Sick Beat.’ What Does That Mean?
You’ll need a license from Taylor Swift if you want to market goods using a variety of phrases found in her 2014 album “1989” – phrases such as “Party Like It’s 1989,” “This Sick Beat,” “‘Cause We Never Go Out of Style,” “Could Show You Incredible Things,” and “Nice to Meet You, Where You Been?”… -
news
With Bill to Ease Travel, Some Republicans Want to ‘Modernize’ US-Cuba Relationship
A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation today that would end the travel ban between the U.S. and Cuba. The bill has an equal number of Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, showing how the Cuba issue defies normal party lines. “We’ve tried this current policy that we have prohibiting travel for about 50 years, and it… -
news
Atlanta Fire Chief Fired Over Views of Homosexuality Files Discrimination Complaint
Former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran has filed a federal complaint that he is a victim of religious discrimination after losing his job after his writing about his views on homosexuality attracted attention. Cochran, who is also a deacon at Elizabeth Baptist Church, was terminated after controversial passages about homosexuality were discovered in his book,… -
news
Volunteer Group Wants to Help Elderly, Disabled With Snow Removal
While Winter Storm Juno might not have brought as much snow as some forecasters were predicting, parts of New England weren’t spared, with some locations suffering power outages and blizzard conditions. Elderly and disabled residents are struggling with snow removal, and one volunteer group wants to help them. Serve Rhode Island, a community service organization,… -
opinion
Hezbollah Attacks Israel: Latest Chapter in a Long Shadow War Between Israel and Iran
The long shadow war between Israel and Iran erupted in a high-profile clash yesterday, as Iran’s surrogate Hezbollah attacked an Israeli military convoy, killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding seven. The attack was a long-anticipated reprisal for the Jan. 18 Israeli airstrike on a Hezbollah convoy in Syria that killed six Hezbollah militants and an… -
news
9 Interesting Facts About Lindsey Graham
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., announced Thursday that he is actively exploring the possibility of a presidential run in 2016. >>> Update: Graham declared his candidacy for president June 1 in his hometown of Central, S.C., saying: “I want to be president to defeat the enemies trying to kill us, not just penalize them or criticize them… -
opinion
Guantanamo Is Ours. Here’s Why We Should Keep It.
Cuban leader Raul Castro told delegates to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit this Wednesday that normal bilateral relations between the United States and Cuba “will not be possible…” until the United States gives back “the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo naval base.” The Obama administration appears to be holding firm… -
news
Trashy? Mike Huckabee Tells Megyn Kelly How He Really Describes Women at Fox News
Megyn Kelly poked fun at herself and longtime Fox News colleague Mike Huckabee last night while giving the former Arkansas governor a chance to rebut reports that he criticized women at the cable network as routinely dropping the “f-bomb.” Huckabee recently left his own Fox show to promote his new book, “God, Guns, Grits and… -
news
Mike Lee Grills Loretta Lynch on Operation Choke Point
President Obama’s nominee for attorney general, Loretta Lynch, faced questions about the government’s controversial Operation Choke Point in her Senate testimony yesterday. “I’m generally familiar with the name Operation Choke Point,” she told Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, about the Justice Department initiative. “My general understanding of it is that it looks to target financial institutions… -
opinion
Why ‘Parenthood’ Was the Best Show on TV
Tonight, the series finale of one of my favorite shows of all time — “Parenthood” — airs. It’s a show that has touched my heart and proved that Americans still have an affinity for family values, morality and doing the right thing even when it’s hard. You won’t see many shows or movies these days…