Right Opinion
The best of conservative opinion and commentary, updated daily.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Burying ‘Sue and Settle’
Whether you consider yourself pro-regulation, anti-regulation or something in between, chances are you’re in favor of clear, open rules. Whatever the policy a particular government agency is following, it should be transparent to all, right?
Cut Taxes, Reagan-Style
What hasn’t happened this week? It started on Monday with special counsel Robert Mueller’s opening round of indictments, chief of which were charges of fraud and money laundering against Donald Trump’s former campaign manager and shifty big-time lobbyist, Paul Manafort.
Time to End Ethanol Mandate and Subsidies
How did biofuel policy have such ghastly effects? By diverting vast amounts of corn (in some years a full half the crop), of which the U.S. raises about a third of the global total, from food (whether directly for people or indirectly through livestock) to fuel.
Tax Cuts & Jobs
House Republicans unveiled their tax reform plan yesterday, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. (Or as Trump refers to it, the Cut, Cut, Cut Act.) While it is not as bold as many conservatives might prefer, on balance it appears to be a good compromise that should spur economic growth.
Hope on the Horizon for Egypt’s Persecuted Church
If anyone understands the horrors of religious persecution, it’s Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
How Media Toasts Hurt the GOP Establishment
A Morning Consult poll released on Halloween offers a scary result for establishment Republicans. They tested the approval and disapproval ratings of current members of the U.S. Senate. Guess who was in the cellar. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ranked dead last.
Religious Extremism by Any Other Name
We knew within hours of the attack that the New York truck killer was a Muslim extremist, inspired by ISIS. In today’s climate, that means that NPR was hesitant to report that he had shouted “Allahu akbar” and that Donald Trump thundered that our legal system is a “laughingstock” (he frets a lot about being laughed at) and blamed immigration.
Keep Calm and Carry On
Keep calm and carry on. Those words, though not appearing as extensively on posters in wartime Britain as often supposed, are good advice for Americans now appalled by the presidency of Donald Trump.
Could It Be That Both Parties Are Doomed?
For all the obvious reasons, the Republican Party gets most of the attention these days. For starters, it controls the White House, the Senate and the House, and the party in power always warrants more scrutiny, even when it’s operating smoothly.
Let There Be Light
“Let There Be Light” is a fabulous movie that has taken the box office by storm and by surprise, opening in a modest 373 theaters and exploding to more than 650 in just its second week.
When Disagreement Is Evil
I am continually struck by a question a friend on Twitter asked on that website. I come back to it every once in a while as news and events go in certain directions. He asked a simple question. He just wanted to know how many political reporters know anyone who owns a pickup truck.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
How About Targeting the Demographic Most Likely to Wage Jihad?
A Muslim immigrant stands accused of waging jihad in New York City. He is accused of spilling innocent blood on American soil in the name of Allah — in the name of the religion of peace.
Do No Harm: What Would Hippocrates Think?
The NHS has recently released treatment guidelines stating that patients who are obese or who smoke will be banned from receiving “non-urgent” surgeries unless they first lose weight or quit smoking.
When Storms and Terror Strike: Consider Who Is in Your Boat
With the awful reality of a new and frightening type of terror attack being perpetrated in the streets of our country, my mind returns to the recent memory of a more peaceful day.
ISIS Wins the Lottery
Tuesday afternoon, Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov drove a rented truck down a Manhattan bicycle path near Ground Zero while yelling “Allahu Akbar.”
Amy Barrett Gives Senate Cause for Confirm
The Senate never got a say in the president’s travel ban, his military transgender policy or the abortion of Jane Doe. But it’s confirming plenty of judges who may.
Our Ex-Presidents’ Insincere Praise of ‘American Generosity’
All five living former Presidents recently came together at a benefit concert for victims of this year’s devastating hurricanes. A month earlier, they broadcast an appeal for Americans to donate for hurricane relief efforts.
On Tax Reform, Republicans Define Victory Down
Needing a victory to validate their majorities, congressional Republicans have chosen not to emulate Shakespeare’s Henry V before Agincourt. He advocated stiffening the sinews, summoning up the blood and lending the eye a terrible aspect. The Republicans would rather define victory down.
Tolls on the Highways? Repeal the Gas Tax First
All-electronic tolling came to the Massachusetts Turnpike late last fall, liberating drivers at long last – at very long last – from the hassle of toll booths and collectors.
Florida Man Has Fender Bender in Manhattan
A man in a Home Depot truck deliberately drove into a bike path in lower Manhattan on Tuesday, mowing down cyclists and pedestrians, crashed into a school bus, then fled the truck, brandishing fake guns and shouting “Allahu akbar!” He was shot by a policeman and taken to the hospital. At least eight people were left dead and many more injured.