Taki's Daily Blog
As a congressman and now governor, South Carolina’s Mark Sanford has had one primary guiding principle his entire political career--limited government. Not just limited government rhetoric, the sort of lip service paid by milk-toast Republicans to pacify their Right-leaning base, but genuine, strict, fiscal conservatism with the guts to back it up. If you ever need a good illustration of just … [Read More]
I have never liked New Year’s Eve. Americans might have voted for “change” recently, but I’ve rarely desired it, always finding the same-old, same-old to be as bright or brighter than any new horizons. As a child on New Year’s Eve, when everyone was looking toward a better new year, I was always wondering what was wrong with the last one. … [Read More]
When president-elect Barack Obama chose evangelical leader Rick Warren to lead a prayer at his inauguration the cultural Left threw the predictable fits. Said Democratic political consultant Chad Griffith “Rick Warren needs to realize that he is further dividing us at a time when the country needs to come together.” In light of the Rick Warren controversy, such “coming together” rhetoric, … [Read More]
When an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad recently, pundits everywhere had fun replaying the footage, commenting on the president’s quick reflexes and some even noted that such an act of defiance was only possible due to the removal of Saddam Hussein. But few took the time to examine the journalist’s … [Read More]
Last week a federal judge decided that South Carolina’s plans to issue a cross featuring a cross and the words “I believe” amounted to government sponsorship of religion. If consistent, this judge will now spend her Christmas not at home with her family but challenging the legality of a national holiday that gives government preference to followers of the Christian faith. … [Read More]
Let’s Start Up a New Wire-Tapping Program--on the Government!
When Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was caught on tape trying to sell president-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat, commented federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald: “The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering.” But Blagojevich’s “pay-to-play” scheme, in which political favors are dispensed by public officials in exchange for compensation, is so common in government that the line between corrupt and … [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]
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]
Wait a second--might the terrorists in Mumbai have had actual political objectives? Are you suggesting that they don’t just hate freedom and wealth? Who has ever heard of such a thing? [Read More]
Those who cheer for Obama now are essentially cheering for nothing, as those who bash Obama are essentially bashing nothing. Obama has done nothing. But like a team mascot, a Mohawk haircut or the Cross, Obama the symbol creates a divide to which many feel compelled to take sides and defend or attack accordingly. They may not know why, but they … [Read More]