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
Why Is Raúl Labrador Running for Majority Leader? Because ‘Americans Are Looking for a Change’
Kevin McCarthy’s main responsibility as House majority whip is counting votes. And although he hasn’t always delivered for Republican leadership, Washington pundits appear so confident in his vote-counting operation that many have already anointed him the next majority leader, even though Republicans don’t vote until Thursday. Just don’t tell Rep. Raúl Labrador, the outspoken sophomore… -
news
Benghazi Panel Assails Media for Failing to Ask Key Questions
A panel discussing the Benghazi terrorist attack assailed the media for failing to serve as watchdogs, letting the Obama administration avoid tough questions in the months following the events that left four Americans dead. “This story has been an abomination of journalism,” said radio host Chris Plante, who moderated Monday’s panel at The Heritage Foundation…. -
news
There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch, Unless You’re Living in Nashville
NASHVILLE—School officials in Nashville don’t want kids to feel insecure about accepting a free school lunch, so they have decided to give everyone a free lunch—even kids who already are well off. Federal taxpayers will foot at least part of the bill for this through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program known as the Community… -
news
Why a Chicken and a Mouse Are Stirring Debate in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M.—Welcome to New Mexico, where a colorful chicken and a very small mouse are causing a big ruckus. Last week, four counties in New Mexico joined in a lawsuit stemming from the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species. The announcement came… -
news
Mississippi Named Most Corrupt State in the Nation
Mississippi has finally got a top ranking among the states. Problem is, it’s an achievement the state can do without. A study by researchers Cheol Liu from the City University of Hong Kong and Indiana University’s John L. Mikesell found corruption in Mississippi was tops among the states from 1976 through 2008. The study sized up the effect of public corruption—measured… -
news
What’s Great About Dads, in Your Words and Photos
Why do you celebrate your father today? When we asked the Heritage Foundation Facebook community why they honor their dads on Father's Day, photos, memories, and I-love-yous poured in. The memories were too sweet not to share. We've highlighted a few of those submissions here. "I remember a tough time I went through in college. I… -
news
California Can’t Convince Drivers to Trade in Clunkers for Cash
California is paying drivers to get their air-polluting cars off the road—and will throw in some cash to get a newer, more fuel-efficient model. But during its first year, only 21 Californians have actually gotten a new vehicle from this cash-for-clunkers-esque program. Government employees even sent out more than 12,000 letters notifying people they were eligible for… -
opinion
Why Has There Been a Surge in the Number of Stay-at-Home Dads?
Culture reporting has been abuzz lately with the “rise of stay-at-home dads,” as Pew Research announced earlier this month that their numbers have doubled over the past two decades. Pew Research found that stay-at-home dads peaked in 2010, in tandem with the Great Recession. The report also finds 23 percent of dads stay home due… -
news
Q&A: What You Need to Know About ISIS in Iraq
Four letters are topping headlines around the world: ISIS. Pinned at the center of the crisis in Iraq, it’s hard to read or watch the news without hearing the name. Despite shaking up global security, the group remains a mystery to many Americans. So who are they? The short answer: the Islamic State of Iraq… -
opinion
Why This Candidate’s Victory Freaked Out Wall Street
Dave Brat’s stunning victory on Tuesday caused widespread panic among those who make their living on Wall Street and the special-interest lobbyists on K Street, but it created an opportunity for the Republican Party to embrace a policy agenda that works for Main Street. A conservative policy agenda is not built on obstruction, but it… -
opinion
Why Are College Tuition Costs Rising So Much?
Quick quiz: What two industries have seen the steepest rate of inflation in the economy over the past decade? If you said energy or housing, you’re wrong. The correct answer is education and health care. The first of these isn’t too surprising to anyone with a son or daughter enrolled in college. One of my… -
opinion
How Part-Time Jobs Became the New Normal for Millions
Marsadeise Barginere, a food service worker in Cleveland, has had her hours cut from full-time to part-time. She’s not alone. Luke Perfect “barely scrape(s) by” at his job in a Subway in Maine. Nonetheless his employer will also put him on part-time status once Obamacare takes effect. Workers all across America have seen their hours… -
opinion
What Cantor’s Defeat Means for Campaign Finance Reform
Money can’t guarantee an outcome in an election. As we saw this week, the person with the most money does not automatically win. Underdog economics professor Dave Brat ousted six-term Congressman and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the Virginia primary, but it was not because campaign finance laws had “leveled the playing field.” Leading… -
opinion
Father’s Day: Taking Dad Seriously
It’s Father’s Day this Sunday. But as The Washington Post points out, even on Dad’s day, he is often the butt of the joke. As the story explains, a scan of Father’s Day cards suggests that dads are portrayed as the irresponsible, beer-guzzling, TV-watching “buffoon.” “Such cards are top sellers among the 87 million Father’s… -
opinion
The Morality of Conventional Fuels: A Response to Union Theological Seminary
The leadership of Union Theological Seminary in New York City has decided to divest its entire $108.4 million endowment away from conventional fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas—the rationale being that conventional fuels are sinful because of the alleged role they play in hastening climate change. If this is the case, it would… -
news
Raúl Labrador Takes on Kevin McCarthy for House Majority Leader
Rep. Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, is in the race for House majority leader. Labrador this afternoon announced his candidacy for the House’s No. 2 post, giving Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., currently in the No. 3 slot as majority whip, a challenger for the job. “I am running for majority leader because I want to help create a… -
opinion
Small-Business Friendly States Experiencing Higher Growth
Eleven state governments received “D’s” or “F’s” in terms of small business friendliness, according to an annual survey of business owners conducted by Thumbtack.com. Rhode Island, Illinois, and California all failed. Nine state governments received “A” marks. Utah, Idaho, and Texas led the pack. This survey quantified the bureaucratic obstacle course which entrepreneurs attempting to… -
opinion
Pilot’s Account Reveals New Cracks in the Benghazi Cover-Up
The pilot who flew the plane carrying U.S. diplomatic and CIA personnel from Benghazi, Libya, to U.S. military base Ramstein in Germany on September 12, 2012, broke his silence this week. His eyewitness account further undermines the Obama administration’s false narrative of the Benghazi terrorist attack. In an interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, Eric… -
opinion
The Iraq Meltdown: What Next?
The swift collapse of Iraqi security forces in northern Iraq in the face of an al-Qaeda-spearheaded Sunni insurgency is a disastrous setback for U.S. counterterrorism and Middle East policies that will have dangerous regional spillover effects. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), formerly known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq, routed demoralized security forces in… -
news
House Leadership Race: Sessions Out, McCarthy Coming on Strong
Defeat at the polls for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor sent shock waves through the House of Representatives. The Virginia Republican’s primary loss also left GOP lawmakers scrambling to solidify candidates to fill his leadership seat. As of tonight, Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy appeared to be closing in on the prize. >>> Update: Labrador Takes on…