Right Opinion
The best of conservative opinion and commentary, updated daily.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Americans Need a Respite From Furiousness
The Republican Party resembles the man who told his psychiatrist, “I have an identity problem, and so do I.” The party’s leader is at best indifferent to, and often is hostile to, much of the party’s recent catechism: limited government, the rule of law, a restrained executive, fiscal probity, entitlement reforms, free trade, the general efficiency and equity of markets allocating wealth and opportunity, and — this matters especially — the importance of decorousness in political discourse.
Things Nobel & Not So Noble
In a recent article, while dealing with the absurdity of Bob Dylan being awarded the Nobel Peace for Literature, I mentioned that far worse miscarriages of justice occur when the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to the likes of Woodrow Wilson, Henry Kissinger, Le Duc Tho, Yasir Arafat and the U.N. Peacekeeping Forces. But as a couple of my readers pointed out, I somehow neglected to mention Jimmy Carter, Al Gore and Barack Obama.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
What Was the Election All About?
Even before Tuesday’s voters brought a dramatic end to the political career of Hillary Clinton and served up a stunning rebuke to the presidency of Barack Obama, the chattering class had a weird spin on what was happening.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Get a Grip, Losers
It’s all over. So why are people still arguing about something Donald Trump said three weeks ago? Why are protestors milling around the streets of our cities holding up misspelled signs and promising revolution? The argument ended early Wednesday morning when the votes were counted. Trump won.
Voters Don’t Want to Alter the Altar
America may recognize same-sex marriage now — but not because voters asked it too! And if the Left thinks the Supreme Court has finally decided the issue, they’re in for a major surprise. Turns out, the court of public opinion has its own verdict on the subject — and new polling shows it’s anything but liberal.
What Comes After the Uprising
President-elect Trump needs to reassure the country, including those who opposed him.
On Retirement
Someone recently sent me a passel of jokes about retired people. A bit further on, I’ll share the better ones. But it got me to thinking about my own status. Every so often, when filling out forms, one of the questions I’m asked is if I’m retired. Inasmuch as I’ll be turning 77 in January, assuming I make it five days into the new year, I sometimes get the feeling I should be on the sidelines with my feet up, mulling over the foibles and follies of my life. Instead I’m busier than I’ve ever been, writing three or four articles a week, wrapping up a movie I wrote and co-produced, and with two books on the verge of publication.
Friday, November 11, 2016
It Turns Out Values Trump Everything
So how did Donald Trump seal the deal with Conservative Christians? Well, it turned out to do more with the Republican Party platform and less about President-elect Trump. Nearly 6 in 10 Trump voters were impacted by the pro-life, pro-religious liberty planks of the Republican Party, according to a post-election poll commissioned by Family Research Council.
President Obama’s Stinging Rebuke
In the course of about six hours, what was supposed to be a Republican existential crisis turned into a Republican wave. What was supposed to be a victory of the coalition of the ascendant became a dispiriting rout of the coalition that didn’t show up. What was supposed to be the crowning political achievement of Barack Obama’s presidency set the predicate for the unraveling of his legacy.
How the New Republican Majority Can Succeed
Donald Trump won fair and square and, as Hillary Clinton said in her concession speech, is owed an open mind and a chance to lead. It is therefore incumbent upon conservatives (like me) who have been highly critical of Trump to think through how to make a success of the coming years of Republican rule.
So Much Wrong
It is humbling and humorous to so publicly get the presidential election so wrong. But after 16 years of marriage I am quite used to being wrong. The reason for being so badly wrong is actually humorous.
About That Performance
Donald Trump won a historic victory Tuesday. It appears he will win the Electoral College vote 306 to 232. He did it by carrying states that haven’t voted Republican in decades.
Obama Helped Pave the Way for Clinton’s Defeat
While many are starting to grasp the enormity of Donald Trump’s victory, few seem interested in coming to grips with the significance of Hillary Clinton’s defeat. It’s understandable, for several reasons. Pretty much everyone was shocked by his victory, but liberals clearly are still in one of the early stages of grief.
This Time, It’s Personnel
If you think your to-do list is long, you should see Donald Trump’s! The president-elect won’t spend long celebrating his historic upset between now and January 20, when he’s sworn in as the unlikely successor to Barack Obama. With about 70 days between now and his inauguration, the Trump camp has the enormous task of assembling a team to help him bring the change to D.C. he promised. That means picking a cabinet and hiring another 4,000 people to staff the government’s 15 departments. And these aren’t your average bureaucrats. These are the men and women who’ll be implementing the laws and writing the regulations to carry them out. (Imagine an administration upholding the law, instead of trampling it!)
Enjoying Hollywood’s Doomsaying
The election has passed, and the American people gave the spoiled celebrities of Hollywood the heave-ho. Despite all of their earnest YouTube lectures and pro-Hillary Clinton concerts and campaign appearances, the next president is Donald Trump. Little did they realize that John Q. Public is done with these multi-multimillionaires positing themselves as champions of the working class, or even more remarkable, the downtrodden.
Democrats Have No One to Blame but Themselves for Trump
Though in many ways the 2016 presidential contest was an uprising against the establishment, let’s face it; Republicans weren’t punished. And that’s not a new development. 2016 is the fourth consecutive election in which the GOP has won the Senate and House. Nearly every conventional conservative Senate candidate — the ones Donald Trump’s fans supposedly hate — ran ahead of the GOP presidential nominee. This includes Republicans who were reticent supporters or outright critics of Trump’s.
Donald Trump’s Astounding Victory: How and Why
Astounding. That’s the best word to describe the tumultuous election night and the (to most people) surprise victory of Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton hoped to win with votes of Northeasterners, including those who have moved south along Interstate 95 to North Carolina and Florida (44 electoral votes). Instead, Trump won with votes along the I-94 and I-80 corridors, from Pennsylvania through Ohio and Michigan to Wisconsin and Iowa (70 electoral votes).
If We Say We Want Inclusiveness, Let’s Mean It and Practice It
I am uplifted by Tuesday’s presidential election results because I believe we have a good chance to start turning things around in the country for the better, from economic issues to social issues and matters of national security and the rule of law. There is one subject, however, I feel compelled to address above many others today, as I see it raised by so many Democratic leaders and many liberals throughout the country — inclusiveness. In their postelection speeches, Hillary Clinton and President Obama both called for unity and inclusiveness. These are very nice-sounding words. But “inclusiveness,” like so many other words of the left, is pregnant with implications and accusations. In reality, it has been not an appeal for unity, except in the most superficial sense, but a battle cry to liberals and an indictment of conservatives.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Will the Trump Presidency Touch Down or Crash Land?
As I peer out the window at the terrain below, jetting over the heartland of America, I cannot help but ponder the future for our nation following the unexpected and historical win by Donald Trump. We saw so many “firsts” during Election 2016. The first billionaire to win the presidency. The first woman to ever receive the nomination for president of a major party. The first election where both candidates’ unfavorable ratings were at historical highs. And so many more.