Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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opinion
Venezuela’s Chavistas Win Big if Keystone XL Pipeline Loses
In an attempt to save her Senate seat, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu (D) has launched a “Hail Mary XL legislative strategy” by pushing for congressional approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would bring 380,000 barrels of oil daily from Alberta, Canada, to the Gulf Coast. Not to be outdone, Representative Bill Cassidy (R–LA), her… -
news
A Year After Glitch-Filled Rollout, HealthCare.gov Opens for Business Again
It’s that time of year: HealthCare.gov is officially open for business. More than a year after HealthCare.gov experienced a glitch-filled rollout, the health insurance marketplace opened once again, though with much less fanfare compared to last October’s implementation. The Obamacare rollout last year saw a flood of 2.5 million Americans attempting to sign up for… -
news
Mick Mulvaney Relishes Opportunity to Move This Group Further to the Right
Not that he always doesn’t, but Rep. Mick Mulvaney especially enjoyed coming to work last Wednesday. Fresh off months of campaigning for the cause, Mulvaney, R-S.C., returned to Capitol Hill knowing that Republicans will assume control of the Senate and tighten their hold on the House of Representatives in January. He also came confident in… -
news
Roots and Ribs: Why Louie Gohmert Wants to Head Conservative Caucus
Louie Gohmert has Texas running through his veins. Born in Pittsburg — that’s Pittsburg, Texas — he wears cowboy boots on the House floor. (He even offered them to Sen. Rand Paul during the Kentucky Republican’s 2013 filibuster.) He is known for his legendary ribs. Covering the walls of his Capitol Hill office are odes… -
opinion
Only 6 Out of 10 Americans Eligible to Work Are Actually Working
First, the good news. The economy is unmistakably regaining some of its mojo. We picked up another 214,000 jobs in October, according to the Labor Department, and with revisions from previous months, the number was closer to 250,000. Now THAT’S more like it. The stock market is on a raging bull ride, too. We keep… -
news
Which City Has the Freest Transportation Market? This Map Ranks the Best and Worst
Is your city transportation-friendly? A new interactive scorecard, created by the R Street Institute, grades 50 cities on their regulatory openness toward car services. The report seeks to identify whether cities encourage competition in the transportation market. Andrew Moylan, senior fellow at the R Street Institute, said the scorecard provides a snapshot of the current regulatory… -
news
Barry Goldwater Ran 50 Years Ago. His Lasting Impact on American Politics.
It was 50 years ago this month that then-Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., suffered one of the most lopsided defeats in the history of presidential elections. He carried just six states and received only 38 percent of the popular vote. Not only had Democrats worked against him, but many in his own party disavowed him because… -
news
Ohio’s Unfunded Pension Liability More than $25K per Resident, $10K Above National Average
Ohio’s public pension plans have so much debt that paying it off today would cost each resident $25,080. According to a new report, “Promises Made, Promises Broken 2014,” by the nonprofit State Budget Solutions, the amount of unfunded pension obligations in Ohio has grown to nearly $290 billion, fifth highest in the nation. That’s despite… -
news
Under Pressure From Congress, Agencies Agree to Investigate Operation Choke Point
Two federal agencies have agreed to investigate the controversial government program known as Operation Choke Point, which critics say targets businesses that are out of favor with the Obama administration. The Justice Department and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. agreed to the investigation after more than 30 members of Congress, led by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer,… -
opinion
Enjoy Verizon’s Free Downloads All Day. They Could Soon be Illegal.
In an act of thanksgiving to its customers (and some strategic marketing), Verizon Wireless has declared it will provide free wireless data and access to certain subscription services on Wednesday, Nov. 26—the day before Thanksgiving and one of the busiest travel days of the year. The company has christened this day of freebies “Connection Day”… -
news
What This Dad Did During His ‘Four Unforgettable Days’ With His Dying Newborn Son
Chris Picco unexpectedly lost his wife Ashley–and just days later, he also lost their son, Lennon, who was born in an emergency c-section. According to Lifestyle Magazine, “during Ashley's pregnancy, she'd feel Lennon moving to music, so she asked her husband to bring his guitar to the hospital and play for him when he was… -
opinion
U.S. Nuclear Deterrence: Reality vs. Fantasy
The post–Cold War world continues to provide the U.S. with a myriad of dynamic threats, from Iran’s increased aspirations to acquire nuclear weapons capability to Russia’s belligerence in Eastern Europe. With the current and growing number of potential threats to the U.S. and its allies, U.S. nuclear deterrence remains paramount to overall security in the… -
opinion
The Moral Case Against Fossil Fuels Matters. And It’s Absurd.
Imagine you are talking to a tobacco advocate who claims that he has a new strategy for winning the hearts and minds of the public: “We will explain to the public that we contribute to economic growth.” “We will explain to the public that we create a lot of jobs.” “We will link our industry… -
opinion
Diplomat and Scholar David M. Abshire Leaves Behind a Vital Legacy
On October 31, the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress announced the passing of public servant and scholar David M. Abshire. Ambassador Abshire leaves behind a remarkable legacy, including vibrant research institutions and a lifetime of dedicated public service. Ambassador to NATO Mr. Abshire served as U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 1983… -
opinion
How Business-Friendly Is Your State? Check Out These Rankings
The choice of where to locate a business depends upon several factors. One of the most important elements of a favorable business environment is good tax policy. Companies owe it to their investors, workers and customers to maximize after-tax income. Consequently, businesses tend to migrate to those areas where tax policies are least punishing, bringing… -
opinion
On Hong Kong, Bipartisanship Works
President Obama may be poisoning the well with his executive action on immigration, but in at least one area there was welcome bipartisan comity in Washington in this post-election week: Hong Kong. Even the president seems to be coming along on this one. On Thursday, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China unveiled House and Senate bills… -
opinion
What Do the 2016 GOP Hopefuls Really Think About Same-Sex Marriage?
The marriage issue didn’t play a major role in the 2014 midterms, but activist courts overturning state laws and lawsuits threatening the rights of those who disagree with redefining marriage may very well make the issue a top one in 2016. Since 1998 and across the early 2000s, millions of Americans voted at the state… -
opinion
15 Photos From This Week’s News Stories
This week was an honorable one in America. The nation celebrated Veterans Day, the Marine Corps birthday and the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. At the same time, the Internet went wild over the latest Kardashian publicity stunt and President Obama traveled to China. We have a quick recap of this week's headlines, and the… -
opinion
This Veteran’s Wedding Video Will Probably Make You Cry Tears of Joy
After 10 months of serving his country in Afghanistan, Joey Johnson, 27, met his soulmate, Michelle. Four months later, while riding his motorcycle (an adrenaline rush that helped him manage his post-traumatic stress disorder) he was in a tragic accident. The accident left Joey with a severe spinal injury. But it didn’t end the love… -
news
Feds Dig Up $2 Million to Support Networking Needs of Amateur Fossil Fans
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Fossil lovers now have one more way to link up and talk about dinosaurs, thanks to a mammoth-sized federal grant. Critics call it more buried treasure. The University of Florida broke ground earlier this year on a taxpayer-supported initiative purporting to connect amateur fossil enthusiasts across the country with each other and…