AT THEIR BEST, POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS are a function of accomplishment, expertise, or judgment. At their worst, they are the consolation prize of cronyism. With Bill Richardson’s appointment as Secretary of Commerce, President-elect Obama veered sharply toward the latter. Although he has little experience in the private sector, Richardson will helm the department most responsible for U.S. … [Read more...]
Exchange with Michael Isikoff, Part III
September 25, 2008 By
Selective Outrage by Ben Johnson In his critique of our book Party of Defeat Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoff rises to a pitch of moral outrage over our lack of concern for the alleged torture of terrorist Ibn Shaykh al-Libi. This focus is typical of critics of the war who ignore the massive leaks of classified information about America’s national security and domestic counterterrorism … [Read more...]
How Does He Help?
August 25, 2008 By
Hearkening back to the selection of Dick Cheney as George W. Bush’s running mate, the media have parroted the same line: Joseph Biden brings “gravitas” to the Obama ticket. Unfortunately, the Biden pick is to gravitas what a forest fire is to home equity. In reality, Biden emphasizes every one of Obama’s vices while muffling his own virtues as a candidate. He shares most of Obama’s … [Read more...]
Tilting Toward Windmills
July 21, 2008 By
Texas legend T. Boone Pickens is a man with a mission: to reduce American dependence on fossil fuels. That the goal is worthwhile is undeniable. Whether his plan is right is another matter. What is indisputable are the chilling facts T. Boone relates in his online videos: In 1970, the United States imported 24 percent of its oil. In 1990, that had grown to 42 percent. It is now 70 … [Read more...]
Kennedy’s Illness, and the Left’s
May 22, 2008 By
THE MEDIA KEEP REMINDING US OF THE ISSUES THAT DIVIDE us as a nation: Iraq, different approaches about reviving the economy, socialized medicine, the role of mankind in global warming, gay marriage, social issues, and many others. As Ted Kennedy’s recently diagnosed brain tumor demonstrated, Right and Left are also divided based on whether they display basic human decency when misfortunes befall … [Read more...]
Saddam’s Salesmen
March 27, 2008 By
“If being used means that we’re highlighting the suffering of Iraqi children, or any children, then yes, we don’t mind being used.” – Rep. James McDermott, D-WA, on his 2002 trip to Iraq, financed by Saddam Hussein. We’ve long contended the terrorists could not buy better representation than the Democratic Left gives them for free. We never knew how right we were. The media … [Read more...]
