Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

Douthat, Ornstein and Self-Execution

Recently two conservatives, Ross Douthat and Norman Ornstein, have come out against Republicans and talk radio for their strong opposition to the use of the “self-executing rule” to pass healthcare legislation. Ornstein chastised Republicans for shamelessly accusing Democracts of using a legislative...
March 19th, 2010 | Republicans | Read More

Healthcare, Budgeting, and Student Loans – Time for Common Sense

The President, his economists, and the CBO defy common sense when they discuss the costs of the 2010 Budget and new entitlement programs such as health care reform and the federalizing of the student loan process.  A recent story in the Washington Post exemplifies the point; reporting on remarks...
March 18th, 2010 | Economics & Law, Politics | Read More

David Cameron on The Next Age of Government – Lunch w/ TED

If there’s one thing that liberals and conservatives can agree on it is this: that an informed citizenry is both necessary and beneficial to the growth and flourishing of a democratic nation. This week’s Lunch with TED features David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative party in the United Kingdom...
March 4th, 2010 | Conservative/Liberal, Lunch with TED | Read More

Classics for the Contemporary Christian: Er…Kommunistischen?

Communism’ is a likely candidate for ‘touchiest word of the 20th century’. While the word evokes many high-charged reactions, two seem consistent among American conservatives: First, communism is associated with naïve hippies who think there should be no war and want to sing ‘Why Can’t We...
February 24th, 2010 | Book Reviews, Politics, Worldviews | Read More

Everyday Justice and Lent

“Welcome, dear feast of Lent!” George Herbert, English country priest and poet wrote in Lent (1633). Last week, the western church entered the season of solemn preparation to remember Christ’s great sacrifice and victory over sin and death, and in a short while our eastern brothers and sisters...
February 23rd, 2010 | Book Reviews, Creation Care, Human Rights, Other, Religion, Social Justice | Read More

Declare the Word in Zion: America and the Middle East

Relations between the United States and the Middle East have always been complicated.  Given that the Middle East enjoys complicated relationships with every other region in the world as well—including itself—this should come as no surprise. On 9/11, however, many Americans were surprised.  In...
February 22nd, 2010 | Book Reviews, Foreign Affairs, Global War on Terrorism, Judaism, Media, Politics, Religion | Read More

Classics for the Contemporary Christian: Meet Machiavelli

Meet Nick. He is a wealthy man, and he works for President Noble as a high-powered ambassador. In a radical upset, Noble is ousted at the next election, and President Masse takes power. Nick continues to work at the capital for Masse—after all, it pays the bills. In the next election, Noble manages...
February 10th, 2010 | Art & Literature, Book Reviews, Culture, Media, Politics | Read More

Heartbreak for Haiti

It has now been a couple of weeks since a 7.0 magnitude quake devastated the island nation of Haiti.  Since the quake I’ve read and seen a great deal of analysis and reporting from the scene, but these sterile dissections, with their emphasis on data and statistics, are not sufficient for helping...
February 2nd, 2010 | Social Justice | Read More

A Rush to the Middle… Class

It’s the speech the White House Communications Office spends a year writing, and the news media spends a couple days dissecting.  It was important enough that the Framers mandated that the president “shall, from time to time, give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend...
January 28th, 2010 | Conservative/Liberal, Democrats, Domestic Policy, Economy, Politics | Read More

Barack Obama: The Populist Professor?

Last night’s State of the Union address changed nothing, aside from Chris Matthews’ eyesight, which I trust has returned to normal.  President Obama is still committed to the same unpopular policies that have left him with a dropping approval rating, and he “won’t quit”. Neither will Republicans,...
January 28th, 2010 | Democrats, Other, Politics, Republicans | Read More