Articles Posted in the " Politics " Category

  • The Power of the Spin

    The Power of the Spin

    I have heard quite often, from several sources (not the least of which is President Obama) the phrase “It’s just the right thing to do.” We seem to all want to do the “right thing” so that line, without any...


  • PA Vouchers for Higher Ed is an Idea for the Future

    PA Vouchers for Higher Ed is an Idea for the Future

    Another interesting conversation over at Community College Dean’s blog.  He notes that here in Pennsylvania the Governor is considering having state funding for some higher ed follow the students rather than funding the state “affiliated” schools in large blocks. My...


  • Dictator, Caesar, or Emperor Palpatine?

    Dictator, Caesar, or Emperor Palpatine?

    Another Venture into politics… This one is really REALLY heartfelt… Here’s what scares me about Obama.  On New Years Eve he signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which, among other things, allows the President to authorize the indefinite detention, in...


  • War with Iran: Not Inevitable, but Language is Leading There

    War with Iran: Not Inevitable, but Language is Leading There

    Lesson #1 in learning about diplomacy: governments choose their words very carefully, so that messages are sent in the headlines, and the quotes. In 1990 George H W Bush made the statement, as the Iraqi forces were still rolling in...


  • Specter’s Spectre

    Specter’s Spectre

    I have had a day to digest the news, and speaking as a conservative, and a life-long Republican, my first reaction remains my reaction: “I had to hold my nose, and vote for Specter.  Now I have to do neither.”...


  • Obama as Messiah?

    Obama as Messiah?

    Apparently the Telegraph thinks so.  I saw this on Google, and was struck by the “halo effect” that seems to be following Obama: It was interesting.  I went to the story that went with the photograph (you see it has...


  • Pesky Tax Cuts expiring? What are they?

    Pesky Tax Cuts expiring? What are they?

    Just yesterday an impromptu discussion in taxation and representation occured over at Community College Dean’s blog.  Apparently “anonymous‘s” comment was “uncalled for” when anonymous (in response to the question about including tax-payers in selecting a college’s Board of Trustees) suggested...


  • Politics of Fear? From which Party?

    Politics of Fear? From which Party?

    This election year is perhaps more strange than any other (and we have had some STRANGE ones!)  It used to be we would joke about the personalities of the candidates, and they ran on their policy ideas.  This year, they...


  • Olympics Commercials and Old-style (Obama) Political Ads!

    Olympics Commercials and Old-style (Obama) Political Ads!

    I have really enjoyed most of the commercials during this year’s Olympics in Beijing.  Creative, touching, and informative. Take the GE commercials, for instance.  They have laid out clearly, in several commercials, how they are actively engaged in alternative energy...


  • Who reaps a Windfall? Exxon? Apple? or Obama?

    Who reaps a Windfall?  Exxon? Apple? or Obama?

    I have written previously about the energy policies of the candidates, and I specifically wrote about the proposals from Obama and Clinton to create a “windfall profits” tax.  At the time I pointed out that, when attempted previously, windfall profit...