Opinion-Columns.com

Put On the Cuffs, I’m Guilty as Charged

If you thought, as I did, that some pretty scary legislation was created in the past seven years of this administration, you might want to pay attention.

The Master Liquidity Enhancement Con (duit)

In a stunning editorial leap of faith, the New York Times headlines that “3 Major Banks Offer Plan to Calm Debts in Housing.” What three major banks have actually suggested, with Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson safely in tow, is that someone else sail in to save their considerably-at-risk bacon.

750,000 Americans Take 50% Drop in Social Security

Don’t worry about losing your Social Security benefits in 2040 or 2050. Three quarters of a million American citizens are already losing theirs.

Unprepared in Iran, the Follow-Up to Unprepared in Iraq

I wrote in 2002 (War With Iraq is Not the Problem) that the difficulties apparent in attacking Saddam Hussein had little to do with overcoming Iraq militarily and everything to do with aftermath. Essentially, we had for so long thirsted for the taste of rabbit that we hadn't bothered looking up any tasty recipes.

Kicking the Last Leg Out From Under the Iraqi Chair

The Pentagon, no doubt while Robert Gates was busy elsewhere, trying along with Condi Rice to rekindle a sense of bi-partisan goals between Russia and the United States, was up to mischief in Iraq. Serious stuff--the kind of decision-making that characterized the early blunders by L. Paul Bremer, for which we are still paying a huge price.

Congress Drops White House Demands Along With Its Pants

In the dance this administration orchestrated over the still-warm corpse of American values, ‘abhorrent’ has come to mean ‘offensive to the mind, but allowable.’ Most of us were flim-flammed by the wording, victims of adminispeak; in common context, the synonyms are repulsive, detestable, obscene and repugnant.

So, NOW What the Hell Are We Doing Here?

It was all about Saddam until it wasn't. Then it was all about al-Qaeda until it wasn't. Then as everything went entirely to hell, it wasn't about 9-11 and wasn't about nation-building, it was all about holding the gangsters away from each other until Iraqis could form a government.

Free Speech Becoming Too Expensive

First it was going to be term limits, everybody’s silver bullet for political corruption. Then it was lobbyist legislation. Next, the big buzz-word was campaign-finance legislation.

Smithsonian--‘Nations Attic'--Leaking Badly

Not to worry—the Congress will not let this happen. Those who stand up every day in the halls of the House and Senate, shaking a righteous finger in the defense of our most precious freedoms, will ride like the cavalry to the rescue. It is, after all, a miniscule number, an amount required to fund less than a week of war.