A New Way Of Thinking About The Gop's Troubles
Back when I was a professional journalist, one of my main goals was to combine questionable biological, historical, and sports metaphors in one paragraph. I never succeeded in this endeavor, though not for lack of effort. But, kudos to Michael Grunwald for pulling off such a feat in his new story on the state of the Republican Party: READ MORE >>
The Court, Or The People?
Jonathan Adler over at the Volokh Conspiracy makes two great points about Justice Souter's retirement. First, as he notes, it's simply a mistake to say that Souter's departure won't have much impact on the voting lineup on the Supreme Court. That may be true on most high-profile political issues the Court addresses, but in cases dealing with more mundane matters--that is, the majority of the Court's docket--the fault lines are more fluid and Souter's departure could make a real difference, notably in the realms of crim READ MORE >>
Moral-Hazard Relativism
When Congress was constructing its economic stimulus bill in February, Democrats attempted to insert a provision that would have extended unemployment benefits by 13 weeks. Republicans would have none of it: Doing so would create an "incentive for people who could otherwise be employed not to be employed," sniffed South Dakota Senator John Thune. That's the way moral hazard works: If government helps those in need, it just creates an incentive to act irresponsibly. READ MORE >>
Where's Henry Clay When You Need Him?
Several commentators, in response to the news that the District of Columbia may finally be on the verge of winning full voting representation in the House, are clamoring for more--two votes in the Senate. READ MORE >>
Don't Forget The Rest Of The Budget
"without Immediate Intervention Our Loved One Will Die"
In the past 24 hours, the California legislature has witnessed a triumphant visit from U.S. READ MORE >>
The Problem With Utah's Bcs Antitrust Claim
It's probably not an issue front and center on many football fans' minds this NFL-laden weekend, but Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is drawing attention with his threat to challenge the legality of college football's BCS [Bowl Championship Series*] under the Sherman Anti READ MORE >>
Are Moderates Really Pragmatists?
Matt Yglesias takes aim at the notion that centrism and pragmatism are one and the same: In the United States, slavish adherence to “moderate” positions is often construed as exhibited “pragmatism” that’s in distinction to the more “ideological” views of people with less centrist views. In fact, moderation can reflect ideology ever bit as much as extremism can. READ MORE >>
Intellectual Consistency Is Not An Option
Today's New York Times op-ed by John Bolton and John Yoo on the Senate's treaty ratification power ends thusly: By insisting on the proper constitutional process for treaty-making, Republicans can join Mr. Obama in advancing a bipartisan foreign policy. They can also help strike the proper balance between the legislative and executive branches that so many have called for in recent years. READ MORE >>
Hillary Clinton's Emoluments Problem
It turns out that the biggest obstacle to Hillary Clinton's march to Foggy Bottom might be grammatical in nature. Adam Bonin and Eugene Volokh weigh in on the debate over the application of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Art. I, 6, cl. 2), which provides: READ MORE >>
