Right Opinion
The best of conservative opinion and commentary, updated daily.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Hillary's Hollow Debate Victory
Hillary Clinton's laugh is so often transparently forced and insincere that it is a staple of Kate McKinnon's impression of her on "Saturday Night Live." At the Democratic debate in Las Vegas, though, the former secretary of state let loose a long peal of amused delight and relief that had about it a strong hint of genuineness. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders had just said we had heard enough about her "damn emails."
The Great White Hope
This past week we returned to the 1980s. A group of elderly rich white liberals stood on a stage in Las Vegas, Nevada, and told the nation they intended to tax more, give more free stuff and surrender our national security. They disagreed on very little issues of substance, largely just racing to outdo each other's promises of more free stuff.
The Comeuppance of Creepy Obama Crony Kevin Johnson
The fit finally hit the shan for Sacramento mayor and former NBA star Kevin Johnson. His latest troubles are a stark reminder of the despicable White House role in railroading a vigilant government watchdog who red-flagged Johnson's corruption years ago. Sports fans buzzed last week after ESPN shelved a documentary celebrating Johnson's efforts to keep the Sacramento Kings basketball team in his city.
Jim Webb, American Hero
When Democratic Party presidential hopefuls were asked by CNN's Anderson Cooper to list the enemies they have made during their careers that they are most proud of, the only candidate who didn't include any fellow Americans was Jim Webb. Webb — who, it should be noted, didn't exactly answer the question — explained that it was an enemy soldier who once threw a grenade and wounded him, a soldier who is no longer around. Jim Webb killed a Commie because Jim Webb loves America.
Civil, Yes, but First Democratic Debate Was a Softball Game
Democrats and their supporters in the media are congratulating themselves for a job well done in the first Democratic debate. Both Martin O'Malley and Hillary Clinton included in their closing remarks canned celebrations of how civil and morally superior the Democratic debate was compared with the earlier GOP donnybrooks.
Bernie Sanders Right at Home in Democratic Party
People initially were in disbelief that a card-carrying socialist such as Bernie Sanders could make a competitive bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, but I trust it's now obvious how wrong they were. Pointing to the rise of Donald Trump and Ben Carson in the Republican race, some say Sanders is doing well because this is a year of the outsiders. But to suggest there is commonality between Democratic outsiders and Republican ones is lazy thinking.
Democratic Party: Not for Grown-Ups
Think of today's Democratic Party as the little village of Hamelin. A piper called Bernie Sanders toots his socialist tune, and all the little Democrats skip along behind him to ... where exactly? According to the medieval legend, the Pied Piper of Hamelin led the children away and drowned them. "Socialist" was once an epithet in American politics, but the Obama years may have effected a change.
A New History on Reagan's 'Last Act'
Craig Shirley has already written two terrific history books about Ronald Reagan, chronicling the 1976 and 1980 presidential campaigns. Now he has delivered the trifecta: "Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan."
Southern Poverty a Poor Choice
Don't look for justice to roll down like a river (Amos 5:24) at the DOJ here in Washington. [Wednesday], the department created for justice showed the drought of it in another display of poor judgment. Fueled by a radical agenda that heeds neither the law nor common sense, the Obama DOJ will stop at nothing to marginalize and silence the Americans it disagrees with — a goal it shares with the disgraced Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
More 'Nonsense' About Israel
[Wednesday] a State Department spokesman attempted to clarify recent remarks by Obama administration officials regarding the recent wave of Palestinian terrorism in Israel. The clarification was more of the same verbal vomit that encourages our enemies and demoralizes our friends. "We recognize that incitement can go both ways here. Whether it's action or rhetoric, it's things that encourage others to continue this cycle of violence," said State Department spokesman John Kirby.
Game Over
I repeat: Unless she's indicted, Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination. I wrote that six weeks ago, amid fevered dreams of a Clinton collapse and a Joe Biden rescue. That those were a mirage is all the more obvious after Tuesday's debate. The reason, then as now, is simple: Clinton has no competition. She's up against three ciphers and one endearing, gesticulating, slightly unmoored old man. If Joe Biden was ever thinking of getting into the race, he'd be crazy to do so now. It's over.
Ahmed's 9/11 Truther Father
Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed explains the "miracle that came to America in the form of terrorism."
Hillary Scores Debate Win — Among Democrats
Going into the Democrats' first presidential debate Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton seems to have banked on one thing: that far fewer Americans would be watching than watched the Republican debates in August and September. That assumption proved correct. Early Nielsen ratings indicate that 13 million viewers tuned in. That's more than the previous Democratic record of 11 million. But it's not much more than half the 23 and 24 million who watched the Republican debates.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Pin the Tale on the Donkey
There were plenty of takeaways from [Tuesday] night's Democratic presidential debate, but the biggest may be how much conservatives have to be grateful for. On a Las Vegas stage, Americans heard from five liberals bent on furthering the agenda that's put our nation on the financial, moral, and international brink. Together, they showed no remorse for the misguided policies of the Obama administration — and instead seemed to apologize that the president's radicalism didn't go far enough.
Democrat Debate Recap
The consensus of the talking heads is that Hillary Clinton was the clear winner in [Tuesday] night's Democratic debate. But some focus groups and online polls suggested that Bernie Sanders held his own. Clearly, she did better [Tuesday] night than she has so far in the campaign. There were some sharp exchanges, but none of the other candidates managed to damage her. In one sense, Clinton prevailed because her opponents were so weak.
Kim Davis and the Rule of Law
Most liberals and even some conservatives are arguing that Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis must either issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples or quit her post. Where you stand on this issue too often comes down to a case of where you stand on the question of whether same-sex nuptials are now "the law of the land" because Justice Tony Kennedy and four of his black-robed cohorts say so.
Hispanics Wouldn't Vote GOP if You Held a Gun to Their Heads
At the Democratic debate on Tuesday night, Sen. Bernie Sanders bragged about getting a "D-minus" from the National Rifle Association (which was also Lincoln Chafee's GPA in high school). Nonetheless, Hillary Clinton attacked Sanders for having voted against an insane bill that would have held gun manufacturers and sellers legally liable for the behavior of anyone who uses one of their guns in a crime.
Hillary's Long and Winding Road to Tonight
Here we are again with Hillary Rodham Clinton confronted by charges of obstruction of justice, perjury and general improbity. Such behavior has been going on with her for a long time. Some journalists who today chronicle the charges facing the Clintons were not even born when it all began.
Of Crickets and Congressmen
Those who take a principled stand in our nation's capital often find themselves alone with the crickets. Unless you're the latest cause celebre of the left (see Sen. Elizabeth Warren), taking a stand against business-as-usual big government on Capitol Hill typically means being labeled a radical extremist who is out of touch with the rest of the country. Look no further than the "far-right extremists" in the House who were voted into power several years ago, thanks in large part to the tea party movement, which — albeit imperfectly — recognized that the federal government needs to be corralled before it goes awry.
Kurdish Activist Takes On Turkey's Descent into Extremism
Abdullah Demirbas risks his life to promote ethnic and religious unity.