Category: Politics

Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics

The Trump-Warren Alliance? A Curious Front Forms Over Banning Former Lawmakers from Lobbying

Well, we asked for bipartisanship. It seems to have arrived with a vengeance. It is rare to see Donald Trump, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez all campaigning on the same issue, but last night the former president added his voice to the call for a lifetime ban on former lawmakers (and cabinet members) working as lobbyists. This alliance is notable not only because it is uncommon but because it is pushing a reform that is likely unconstitutional. Continue reading “The Trump-Warren Alliance? A Curious Front Forms Over Banning Former Lawmakers from Lobbying” →

Columns, Congress, Politics

Swalwell’s Opposition to Parental Rights is Wrong Legally, Medically, and Politically

Below is my column in Fox.com on the Swalwell attack on parents seeking a greater voice in the education of their children. We discussed the tweet earlier and how it makes a curious argument based on legal and medical standards for clients and patients.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Swalwell’s Opposition to Parental Rights is Wrong Legally, Medically, and Politically” →

Constitutional Law, Media, Politics

Are Runoffs Racist? The Media Coverage Ignores the Democratic Purpose of Runoffs

Below is my column in the Hill on the Georgia runoff and how media stories have focused on the runoff as a racist invention. As a long-standing advocate of runoffs, I view the majority requirement for election as not just an enhancement but an embodiment of democratic values. Indeed, with the mantra this election that “democracy is on the ballot,” one would think that both parties would support such runoffs not just in Georgia but throughout the country.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Are Runoffs Racist? The Media Coverage Ignores the Democratic Purpose of Runoffs” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics

“Giddy” as All Get Out? The Winners and Losers in a Shift in Control of Congress

Below is my column in the New York Post on why the self-described “giddy” White House might want to consider the impact of a loss of one or both houses of Congress. While many are still debating who will prevail in contested districts or states, the shift in power could produce its own “winners and losers.” Indeed, the President may find himself as giddy as all get out if he loses control of the House and possibly the Senate.

Here is the column:

Continue reading ““Giddy” as All Get Out? The Winners and Losers in a Shift in Control of Congress” →

Columns, Congress, Media, Politics

Washington’s Pandora’s Box: The Opening of the Hunter Biden Laptop Could Expose the Cottage Industry of Influence Peddling

Below is my column in Fox.com on the impact of the likely GOP takeover of the House on the Hunter Biden scandal. Hunter Biden’s laptop is Washington’s Pandora’s Box. Opening up that laptop to greater public scrutiny could expose our local cottage industry of influence peddling.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Washington’s Pandora’s Box: The Opening of the Hunter Biden Laptop Could Expose the Cottage Industry of Influence Peddling” →

Media, Politics

“Worth Being Looked at”: Biden Supports Launching National Security Review of Elon Musk’s Twitter Purchase

President  Joe Biden said on Wednesday that “I’m not going to change anything” after the midterm elections even with the possible loss of one or both houses of Congress. One thing that did not change is Biden’s continued suggestion that his political opponents are fascists or national security threats. Biden is now supporting an investigation into whether Elon Musk’s taking over of Twitter is a national security threat. Biden’s statement comes just a couple days after Musk’s call for supporters to vote for Republican control of Congress and the President attacking him for his plan to restore free speech protections on Twitter. Continue reading ““Worth Being Looked at”: Biden Supports Launching National Security Review of Elon Musk’s Twitter Purchase” →

Columns, Congress, Media, Politics

Biden’s Inner Pluskat: How the Loss of Control of Either House Could Impact the President

Below is my column in the New York Post on what a flipping of either (or both) houses might bring for President Joe Biden. While the President has cited his own impeachment as the danger of such a change, it may be the least of his worries. As we wait for the final tally on seats in both houses, here are three areas that represent a more serious threat to the President than removal from office.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Biden’s Inner Pluskat: How the Loss of Control of Either House Could Impact the President” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Lawyering, Politics

Fetterman Turns to Controversial Clinton Lawyer Marc Elias’ Firm to Strike Down Pennsylvania Election Provisions

Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman and other Democrats have filed a federal lawsuit to strike down parts of Pennsylvania’s election law after the state Supreme Court ruled that mail-in ballots with incorrect dates or no dates should not be counted. Fetterman is challenging the state law on constitutional and federal statutes. He has turned to a controversial former lawyer for Hillary Clinton to seek to strike down the provision.

Continue reading “Fetterman Turns to Controversial Clinton Lawyer Marc Elias’ Firm to Strike Down Pennsylvania Election Provisions” →

Media, Politics

Biden’s “Bottomless Pinocchio”: Washington Post Hits the President With Rare Rebuke for Repeated False Claims

We have been discussing a series of false statements made by President Biden about election law, border agents, Second Amendment, gun capacity, and a variety of personal facts, including all of the falsehoods addressed on this blog earlier. Now, the Washington Post has awarded President Biden a “bottomless Pinocchio” for his repeating of clearly false facts — a distinction that he now shares with his predecessor former President Donald Trump.  For those in the free speech community, it is a highly ironic moment given the President’s recent defense of censorship because citizens need “editors” to tell them what is real and what is not. Indeed, he asked, if we did not censor social media, “how will people know the truth?” Continue reading “Biden’s “Bottomless Pinocchio”: Washington Post Hits the President With Rare Rebuke for Repeated False Claims” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics

Constitutional Defamation: Democrats, not Democracy, are in Danger this Election

Below is a slightly expanded version of my Hill column on the widespread claims that democracy is in peril if the GOP prevails in the midterm elections. On the eve of the midterm elections, one would think that our constitutional system has only days to live. Indeed, on Fox Sunday, House Majority Whip James Clyburn declared “I’ve studied history all of my life. I taught history. And I’m telling you, what I see here are parallels to what the history was in this world back in the 1930s in Germany. This country is on track to repeat what happened in Germany when it was the greatest democracy going, when it elected a chancellor that then co-opted the media.” In other words, the Republicans are like Nazis about to overthrow democracy, an analogy to the rise of Adolph Hitler. It is notable that Democrats, including President Biden, are now arguing that the media is pro-Trump or coopted by the Republicans.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Constitutional Defamation: Democrats, not Democracy, are in Danger this Election” →

Politics, Society

Washington Post Columnist: Doubting Fetterman’s Fitness is Embracing Eugenics
C-Span

On the eve of the midterm elections with Pennsylvania’s Senate race viewed as a dead heat, a debate has continued to rage over whether Democratic candidate John Fetterman is fit after suffering a serious stroke that impaired his communication and processing skills. However, as we previously discussed, many on the left have swatted back questions concerning Fetterman’s fitness as “ableism.” Now, the Washington Post has run a long column from University of Delaware Professor Jaipreet Virdi declaring that it is not just embracing ableism but eugenics to question Fetterman’s fitness. Continue reading “Washington Post Columnist: Doubting Fetterman’s Fitness is Embracing Eugenics” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Supreme Court

“When True Democracy Goes Away, People Get Hurt”: Obama Joins Mantra that Democracy is at Risk if GOP Wins

Former President Barack Obama continued the Democratic campaign theme this week in arguing that democracy is in danger if Republicans prevail in the midterm elections. I have a new column out this weekend addressing the over-the-top rhetoric coming from Democratic politicians and pundits. However, the former president’s speech was revealing as he cited the very arguments made by Democrats  . . . as attacks on democracy.  Obama did not go as far as some but he also seemed to channel the dire warnings of the imminent collapse of our democracy if the Republicans should prevail in the elections.

Continue reading ““When True Democracy Goes Away, People Get Hurt”: Obama Joins Mantra that Democracy is at Risk if GOP Wins” →

Free Speech, Media, Politics

“How Do People Know the Truth?”: Biden Unleashes Tirade Over Musk Restoring Free Speech Protections on Twitter

Elon Musk has not actually changed the “content moderation” policies at Twitter yet, but President Joe Biden went on a virtual rave on Friday over the prospect of free speech breaking out on a single social media site. As a type of censor-in-chief, Biden has led calls for censorship on social media, which have been largely heeded by companies like Facebook and Twitter. Now Biden is accusing Twitter of “spewing lies all across the world” by seeking to reduce one of the largest censorship systems in history. The President lamented that the influence of the media will be “de minimus.” He is a bit late on that front. Continue reading ““How Do People Know the Truth?”: Biden Unleashes Tirade Over Musk Restoring Free Speech Protections on Twitter” →

Academia, Politics

Crickets: Illinois Professor Publishes Racist Attacks Against Herschel Walker With No Outcry from the Faculty or Media
Professor Sundiata Cha-Jua, a prominent history and African-American studies professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is under fire after using racist slurs to describe Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker. While the racist attack has drawn criticism on conservative sites, there has been no opposing statement or protest at the university. The media has also been largely quiet. The contrast to past controversies involving conservative faculty members again raises the concern over a double standard applied by colleges and universities as well as the media. Thus far, the response to the use of racist slurs or tropes against Republicans has been the familiar sound of crickets. Continue reading “Crickets: Illinois Professor Publishes Racist Attacks Against Herschel Walker With No Outcry from the Faculty or Media” →
Media, Politics

MSNBC Meltdown: “Our Children will be Arrested and Conceivably Killed” if the GOP Wins Midterm Elections

Last night, President Joe Biden returned to his earlier claim that his political opponents are fascists seeking to establish authoritarianism in the United States. While the hellish red background is gone from his controversial Philadelphia address, the message remains: a vote for the GOP is a vote for tyranny. Despite polls showing citizens view the President as inciting political unrest and potential violence with such attacks, the theme was quickly picked up and magnified in the media. Presidential historian Michael Beschloss actually suggested on MSNBC that we could be just days away from an authoritarian hellscape if the GOP prevails in midterm elections — raising the specter of our children being taken away and killed.  Continue reading “MSNBC Meltdown: “Our Children will be Arrested and Conceivably Killed” if the GOP Wins Midterm Elections” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks