“Something is rotten in the state,” says Marcellus in “Hamlet.” Well, it certainly is in the state of Illinois. Yet, on hearing U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald describe a plot by his governor to sell his Senate seat—“conduct (that) would make Lincoln roll over in his grave”—how did reform President Barack Obama respond? “I had no contact with the governor or his … [Read More]

NEW YORK—A Brooklyn-born rapper by the name of John Forte had a business idea of sorts about eight years ago. It was one of those get-rich quickly schemes that, alas, work most of the time, hence the reason so many people are out of it most of the time. He flew to South America, bought a large amount of a liquid … [Read More]

The Beltway Right is still venting its collective spleen over Bill Kristol’s latest Times op-ed in which he argues, rather elliptically, that the conservative movement and GOP should get rid of its “small government,” “rugged individualism” talk, which scares people, and instead spend their years in exile developing a governing philosophy for the modern welfare state—not too big, not too small, … [Read More]

My gentle (and not so gentle) readers are all urged to join the Constitution Party, the Christmas celebration of which for Lancaster County I had the pleasure of attending last night. Among the speakers and celebrants were Jim Clymer, who ran for the US Senate, Dan Frank, who was the recent congressional candidate from our district, and Gary Odom, the Party … [Read More]

When America declared a “war on poverty” in the 1960’s, it was believed that even more assistance by the federal government would lead to eradicating the problem. What we got instead was bigger government and an army of dependents for whom welfare became not merely a helping hand but a way of life. When America declared a “war on terror” at … [Read More]

In a deepening recession, what does the reasonable man do? Seeing friends laid off, he will get rid of all but essential credit cards, dine at home more often, terminate unnecessary trips to the mall, put off buying a new car, give up the idea of borrowing on the vanishing equity in his house. He will begin to save and start … [Read More]

This weekend I attended an engrossing production of The Seagull on Broadway—and I was lucky enough to be accompanied by the intelligent and beautiful great granddaughter of Manfred von Richthofen, the German ace of the Great War. And though I was much affected by the bourgeois tragedy unfolding on stage, my thoughts tended towards the Red Baron and his lovely scion. … [Read More]

Amongst the many conversations from many quarters about who might lead the Republican Party, I keep hearing one name time and time again—Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. So what’s so special about Jindal? While he’s conservative on gun rights, illegal immigration, and social issues, none of this really sets Jindal apart from other Republican leaders. What does set the Louisiana governor apart … [Read More]

A bold terrorist attack on a peaceful city strikes fear, then horror among bystanders, then an entire nation. Gunmen barely out of their teens, sent on a clandestine one-way mission against a hated foe, create a bloody international incident with huge implications. Two neighboring states, long at loggerheads over issues of borders and identity, lurch towards war as a nervous world … [Read More]

Why will this recession be different, and likely much worse, than all the other recessions of the past? Imagine a Paleolithic village which has no children. When all the adults grow too old to work, everyone dies. Now imagine a country with a well-funded national pension system, also without children. Everyone retires on the same day, and the pension fund instantly … [Read More]