Whenever I discuss the colossal mistake that was (is) the Iraq war and the embarrassing lack of WMDs, some defender of that war always insists that “everyone” thought Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. Well no, everyone didn’t, including the weapons inspectors. But the “everyone” who count most are those who wield the most power, and thus said Vice President … [Read More]

Having the moniker “Southern Avenger” is like being named “Malcolm X.” Both have racial connotations and people assume the best or worst depending on their perspective. That advocates of Southern heritage might try to emphasize positive aspects of their philosophy—regional pride, states’ rights—is unacceptable to critics who see nothing but a front for anti-black racism. That advocates of Black Nationalism might … [Read More]

In a recent column for the Charleston City Paper, I explained how my moniker, the “Southern Avenger,” came from my advocating for states’ rights and even secession in my early 20s, a brand of politics I still subscribe to today. Long comfortable with such concepts, it’s easy to forget that plenty of folks are not, and was reminded promptly by a … [Read More]

When FOX News host Glenn Beck said during an interview with Katie Couric this week, “John McCain would have been worse for the country than Barack Obama,” his comments made headlines. Beck explained that “McCain is this weird progressive like Theodore Roosevelt was.” Beck laid out this view in better detail on his television program earlier this month: I am becoming … [Read More]

South Carolina’s Jim DeMint is one of my favorite Republicans. The senator’s unwavering opposition to government spending—from “stimulus” and national healthcare to auditing the Federal Reserve—just warms my conservative heart. That is until he breaks it again, as he always does, by going back to supporting the biggest government program of them all. On the day before DeMint appeared on FOX … [Read More]

When former president Jimmy Carter criticized the treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli government in his 2006 book Palestine Peace Not Apartheid, he was immediately denounced as an “anti-Semite.” To his critics, Carter’s actual argument seemed less important than the fact that he would dare make it. Carter was apparently not aware of the longstanding, unwritten rule that merely criticizing Israel … [Read More]

When country artist Taylor Swift won the “Best Female Video” award at the MTV Music Awards Sunday night, hip-hop artist Kanye West jumped onstage, grabbed her microphone and declared that singer Beyonce Knowles, not Swift, had the best video. Why would a black man humiliate a young white girl to protest her beating a black woman for an award for best … [Read More]

When Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted “you lie!” at President Obama during his speech on national healthcare, the congressman made headlines, was denounced by his fellow lawmakers and he apologized for his bad behavior. Wilson should have apologized but he was right—as lying is what our government does best. Said Obama Wednesday night: In 1935, when over half of … [Read More]

I’m often asked where I got the name “Southern Avenger.” For starters, it was a rip-off of a popular 90’s conservative talk radio host named Ken Hamblin, who called himself the “Black Avenger.” In a Jim Beam-induced haze, a friend convinced me it was catchy and it just sort of stuck. But that’s only half the story. In my early 20’s, … [Read More]

A year ago this week, I wrote the following concerning liberal Democrat Joe Lieberman being invited to speak at the 2008 Republican National Convention and conservative Republican Ron Paul being shut out: “If you are pro-gun control, pro-socialized health care, pro-choice, pro-amnesty, all of these liberal positions can be tolerated so long as you are pro-war. If you are a staunch … [Read More]