Opinion and commentary on news, politics, culture, and policy impact.
Chinese dissident Wei Jinsheng blasted U.S. broadcasting to China, offering yet one more reason for Congress to put broadcasting reform back on the table when the 114th Congress convenes in January. Criticisms of Voice of America Wei delivered his criticisms of Voice of America (VOA) at the October 30 meeting of the Broadcasting Board of…
The current lame-duck session, the period between Election Day and when the new members enter Congress, is particularly important because the Republicans will take control of the Senate in January and retain control of the House of Representatives, leaving Senate Democrats with a brief window of opportunity until they lose control of the Senate in…
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…
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…
The election results were a crushing political blow for the Obama administration, giving Republicans firm control of both houses of Congress for the final two years of his term. But this in no way signals the end of the president’s policy agenda. It simply shifts the action to regulatory agencies. In the days since the…
The Republicans will hold a comfortable majority in the U.S. House and, at most, a 55 seat majority in the Senate for the 114th Congress. That’s not a wide enough margin to override a Presidential veto. Still, the Republicans owe it to their constituents to exercise governance. On election night Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated…
Foreign affairs may not have played a big part in the midterm elections, but that doesn’t mean all is well with current foreign policy. A CBS poll the week before the election found only 34 percent of Americans approved of the president’s handling of foreign policy. Within our foreign policy establishment, there is widespread bipartisan…
For months on end, Democrats crowed that voters were going to toss Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and his tax-cutting agenda out of office on Tuesday. He was pounded in the media for the evident sin of following the Laffer-Moore model of income-tax rate reductions to stimulate growth and prosperity. This reform was denounced as a…
Historically, economics has often driven the narrative surrounding presidential visits to Asia. Consider President Obama’s 2009 trip to China in the midst of the global financial crisis. It gave wings to a narrative about China’s rise and American decline. The economic environment may be changing again. Only this time, the change is less dramatic and…
It’s always heartening when Veterans Day rolls around each November to see our nation pay tribute to those who have served so nobly in our armed forces. We often do it in small ways. My wife and I recently noticed, for example, that a local supermarket had set aside a pair of parking spaces marked…
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”…
It's round two. From Nina Owcharenko's column: The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the King v. Burwell case exposes another potential weakness in the health care law. In the King case, the Supreme Court will consider whether the Internal Review Service has the authority to expand the application of healthcare subsidies to federal exchanges. The subsidies are a…
Will the Federal Communications Commission tax the Internet? It’s very possible, said FCC commissioner Mike O’Reilly at a conference sponsored by the Free State Foundation in Washington on Friday. The tax, which could total over $7 per month on the typical American’s broadband bill, would be imposed as a consequence of regulating the internet via…
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…
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…
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…
A Veteran’s Day feature from the Associated Press showcased the improved training of diplomatic security agents, with a view to demonstrating that the lessons of Benghazi have been absorbed by the State Department. In a simulation in a location in Virginia dubbed Erehwon (“nowhere” spelled backwards), State Department security staff beat back an attack resembling the attack on the ill-fated U.S. consulate in Benghazi…
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…
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…
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…