Right Opinion
The best of conservative opinion and commentary, updated daily.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Rand Paul a Man For All Seasons on Health Care
The greatest trick any politician can pull off is to get his self-interest and his principles in perfect alignment. As Thomas More observed in Robert Bolt’s “A Man for All Seasons,” “If we lived in a State where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us good, and greed would make us saintly.”
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Standing With Israel
It was an extraordinary day in Washington, DC. Thousands of pro-Israel activists were in town yesterday for the annual Christians United For Israel Washington Summit.
The Party of Bad Faith?
If the Republican attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare ultimately fails, it will be a lesson in the wages of political bad faith.
Remorse Code? GOP Changes Tune on Trans Vote
When Republicans won control of Congress, the last thing voters thought they’d get was a continuation of Obama’s social agenda. So imagine their surprise on Friday when that’s exactly what 23 GOP members voted to give them as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Nukes Threaten People; Ideas Threaten Civilizations
Last week, I tweeted, “The news media in the West pose a far greater danger to Western civilization than Russia does.” To my surprise, the tweet went viral. And while there were more likes than dislikes, 99 percent of the written reactions were negative.
Here’s Ronnie!
While scanning YouTube videos, I came across an appearance by Ronald Reagan on “The Tonight Show,” hosted by Johnny Carson. The year was 1975 and Reagan was “between jobs,” having left office as governor of California, where he served for eight years, but not yet president. He would challenge Gerald Ford for the Republican nomination in 1976, barely losing at the nominating convention, but setting himself up for what would be a successful run in 1980.
Cruz Rescues Republicans on ObamaCare
Republicans are finally getting smart on Obamacare. It took one of the savviest Republican senators — Ted Cruz of Texas, with an assist from Mike Lee of Utah — to get the GOP to figure out how to replace Obamacare, reduce premiums and save money for the government, all without alienating millions of voters. He’s pulled the Republicans’ fannies out of the fire, flipping a losing strategy into a big-time winner.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Liberals: Evil or Just Stupid?
There are times when I try to imagine what it must be like to be a member of the Left. But no matter how hard I try, I find I simply can’t bring it off. Instead, I wind up marveling at their ability.
Sunday, July 16, 2017
The Kids Are All Right
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) recently described his book on our adolescent culture as something more than an old man yelling at the kids on his lawn. I agree with Sasse that our artistic, social and political milieu seems more juvenile, shallow and sensation-driven than ever, and I hope this column offers something similar to the senator’s aim — an example of harmony amidst the noise and hope among the pessimism.
A Nation on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
The stranger rang the doorbell. Five minutes later, she was sobbing in our living room.
Bet Your Bottom Dollar That, Tomorrow, Congress Won’t Act on Its War Responsibilities
Predictably and sensibly, a three-judge panel of the nation’s second-most important court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, recently dismissed, unanimously, a lawsuit brought by a Yemeni man, two of whose relatives were collateral fatalities in a 2012 U.S. drone attack that killed three terrorists. The suit asked the court to declare the attacks illegal under several U.S. statutes.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
GOP Tanks Ban on Military’s Gender Surgery
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) never served in the military — but she’s one of the strongest warriors you’ll ever meet. And during Thursday’s debate over the National Defense Authorization Act, that’s exactly what America needed. While other Republicans ran and hid, she stood in the fire, fiercely determined to stop what Barack Obama started: the decimation of the world’s greatest fighting force.
Obama-Appointed ‘Ethics’ Officer Resigns — Good Riddance
When a partisan member of the bureaucratic swamp resigns, that’s something to cheer about. And huzzahs were certainly in order last week when the nation’s top “ethics” officer, Walter Shaub, announced that he is resigning, effective July 19.
It’s Time to Clean Up Our Elections
Despite the massive media attention given to the claim that Russia attempted to influence last year’s election, the greatest threat to American democracy is vote fraud at home.
Clinton vs. Trump Jr.
Here we go again. The media are in another frenzy over Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with Russians.
A Pope and a President in Poland
In a good Warsaw speech, Trump invokes one of Pope John Paul II’s great 1979 orations.
ABC News: Christians Who Defend Religious Liberty Are ‘Hate Group’
Alliance Defending Freedom is demanding a retraction and apology from ABC News after reporters smeared one of the nation’s most respected religious liberty law firms as a “hate group.”
Donald Trump Has Been Good for Religion
Among the many benefits of having Trump in the White House, one that should not be ignored is the greater understanding that now exists between the other religions and evangelical Christianity. I’m sure I’m not the only conservative Republican who thought that when the liberal media conspired to release the audio of Trump exchanging crude comments with Bobby Bush about women shortly before the election, it spelled the end of Trump’s chances of defeating Hillary Clinton.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Years of Dishonesty Cost the GOP
I saw an honest Republican congressman on TV the other day. I was so shocked I can’t remember who it was or what channel I was watching. But he gave the most truthful explanation I’ve heard from a Republican politician all year about why the GOP can’t get it together on health care reform.
Reince for President
It’s been a rough week for the White House, so reportedly — yet again — Reince Priebus might get fired.