Right Opinion
The best of conservative opinion and commentary, updated daily.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Scoring the Great Debate
I didn't watch CNN's telecast of the Republican debate because I was there in person. For some reason — maybe it was my last name — I was able to score three second-row seats at the Reagan Library for the two debates. More than 20 million people around the world tuned in, apparently making the three-hour debate CNN's highest rated show ever.
The Long Debate
It was a long debate. "The Sound of Music" with Julie Andrews clocked in at three hours. The CNN debate in Simi Valley, Calif., ran longer than that. It became an endurance contest between a lot of politicians used to East Coast time. By the time they were done, it was after 11 p.m. What we learned along the way was that Carly Fiorina is ready for prime time. In Ohio, Fiorina sat at the kids' table debate. CNN actually shifted its polling requirements a bit to accommodate for the rise of Fiorina after that first debate. It was to the network's credit that they did so.
Syria Just One of Obama's Foreign-Policy Failures
The news that the Obama administration has spent $500 million to put "four or five" fighters on the ground in Syria adds an almost comic irony to what is ultimately a tragic farce. In the 1980s, the symbol of Republican incompetence and mismanagement was the $600 toilet seat. Left out of the media coverage was the fact that the toilet seat was for a special kind of anti-submarine aircraft that had been out of production and needed special retrofitting. But forget all that. How does that compare to spending $100 million per non-bionic human soldier?
Do Republicans Care About Winning?
The question dogs any woman who writes about politics: "Don't you want to see the first woman elected president of the United States?" The unstated premise, always obvious, is that you are some sort of traitor to your sex if your hand isn't itching to pull the lever for someone with the correct chromosomes. My answer has always been, "That depends upon what she believes." Hillary Clinton banked on the First Woman President effect from the start — an understandable gambit for someone with no substantive accomplishments and many flaws.
Second GOP Debate
[Wednesday] night's Republican presidential debate — a three-hour marathon with 11 candidates — was quite a show. Preliminary numbers suggest that 20 million people tuned in. Prior to last night, CNN's highest rated presidential primary debate featured Obama and Clinton battling it out in January 2008 with just over 8 million viewers. That tells you something. There is a lot of energy among conservatives and interest in the GOP candidates. How much is due to Donald Trump's presence on the stage?
Our Side Must Decide to Put the Sideshows Aside
I wish the presidential debates could focus on what's wrong with the status quo and solutions rather than on what one candidate thinks about another's silly remarks. I don't want to hear Jeb Bush cajoling Donald Trump to apologize to his wife in front of millions of people. I don't want moderators to force a food fight between Trump and other candidates about whether he should have his finger on the nuclear button. I don't want them provoking a conflict between Chris Christie and Ben Carson over politicians' expediency. And I sure don't want to hear a candidate commenting on his rivals' physical appearance. This stuff is embarrassing, is unproductive and trivializes vital issues facing the nation.
Why 'The View' Is Bombing
You would think that a groundbreaking TV show for women hosted by women would do its best every day to respect and uplift women. Instead, ABC's "The View" — originally created by veteran journalist Barbara Walters to represent women "of different backgrounds, different generations and different opinions" — has devolved into an ear-splitting bickerfest of elite divas who scoff and sneer at those who do not enjoy their celebrity privilege or share their left-wing ideological values.
'IStandWithAhmed' Hashtag Is Not About Authoritarian Bureaucrats; It's About Pretend Islamophobia
Earlier this month, a 13-year-old boy in Maryland faced an assault charge after authorities say he kissed a 14-year-old classmate on a dare at school. He's being charged with second-degree assault as a juvenile. He has not, as yet, been invited to the White House. In December 2013, a 6-year-old boy in Colorado was suspended from school for kissing a girl on the hand. "It was during class," Hunter Yelton explained. "We were doing reading group, and I leaned over and kissed her on the hand. That's what happened." No White House invitation.
Life of the Party...
[Wednesday] night wasn't just the second GOP presidential debate — it was the second round of strong performances by Republicans on the sanctity of human life and the importance of religious liberty. Unfortunately, under the same bifurcated format as Cleveland's, some of the field's best torchbearers on the issues were relegated to a smaller forum earlier in the evening. Personally, I think everyone would have been better served had the stage been set for *all* of the candidates.
The Media's Stupid Trump Obsession
CNN gathered together all of the Republican presidential candidates at the Reagan Library for a highly touted debate and could hardly think to ask them about anything except Donald Trump. By one count, 44 percent of the questions touched on Trump. Why even pretend it's going to be a debate? Just bill it as a seminar on the worldview and foibles of Donald Trump, with occasional diversions into matters of greater public import.
Europe's Humanitarianism Is, Sadly, Not Humanitarian
Human beings are hard-wired to protect young children. That's the easiest explanation of the rush of Europeans — especially, but not only, elites — to welcome huge numbers of refugees after publication of the picture of a dead three-year-old boy on a Turkish beach. In response, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would take in 800,000 as refugees. That's 1 percent of Germany's population. The proportionate equivalent in the United States would be 3 million — three times the level of legal immigration.
Putin's Gambit, Obama's Puzzlement
Once again, President Obama and his foreign policy team are stumped. Why is Vladimir Putin pouring troops and weaponry into Syria? After all, as Secretary of State John Kerry has thrice told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, it is only making things worse. But worse for whom? For the additional thousands of civilians who will die or flee as a result of the inevitably intensified fighting. True, and I'm sure Lavrov is as moved by their plight as by the 8,000 killed in Russia's splendid little Ukrainian adventure.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
The American Constitution: Why It Endures
The greatest contribution that the Founders made to the well-being of America was the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is appropriate that we talk about this document in a week when the Constitution is lauded. How is it that this document has endured with only a few amendments? The first 10 are usually viewed as part of the original document and two more — the 18th and the 21st — negated each other (prohibition and repeal). Another handful were easily justified: ending of slavery (13th Amendment); eliminating voting restriction based on race or sex (15th and 19th Amendments); limiting the tenure of the president to two terms (22nd Amendment); and providing for presidential succession (25th Amendment). Why has the basic structure of the document stayed intact?
The Competition Heats Up
Impressive candidates make clear no one will go down without a fight.
Giving Power to the People
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker just proposed a plan to overhaul the country's labor laws, called "My Plan to Give Power to the People, Not the Union Bosses." It would do that by expanding employee choice and holding unions accountable to their members. One of the main underlying themes of the Republican presidential hopeful's private-sector reforms is transferring power and decision-making from unions to their members. For instance, the plan would guarantee employees' rights by strengthening secret-ballot elections. Under current law, unions have ways to work around the protections, making such elections less than secret. The change would protect workers from retaliation by not disclosing their choices to unions during workplace elections.
Bernie Does Liberty University
Self-declared socialist and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders entered what his supporters must consider the belly of the beast on Monday. He spoke at the conservative evangelical Liberty University in Virginia. Some of those supporters sat in reserved seats, ensuring his remarks would be received with some applause. Liberal and Democratic speakers at Liberty are not as rare as one might think. In 1983, Sen. Ted Kennedy visited and spoke about religious freedom, standing up for the right of conservative evangelicals to be heard in the public square. Rev. Jesse Jackson delivered a message from Jerry Falwell's pulpit one Sunday morning. Donald Trump has also spoken at the school.
Hillary Isn't Biden's Problem — Obama Is
Is Vice President Joe Biden in or out? Many praised Biden's "honesty" for saying to Stephen Colbert on CBS' "The Late Show": "I don't think any man or woman should run for president unless, number one, they know exactly why they would want to be president, and two, they can look at folks out there and say, 'I promise you, you have my whole heart, my whole soul, my energy and my passion to do this.' And I'd be lying if I said that I knew I was there. I'm being completely honest. Nobody has a right, in my view, to seek that office unless they're willing to give it 110 percent of who they are."
Guess Which ABC Show Will Feature Full Frontal Nudity?
The other day I hopped off the R Train underneath the Fox News Corner of the World and came face to face with a poster promoting ABC's new interpretation of "The Muppets." There, in all his glory, was Kermit the Frog — touting an "adult" version of the beloved children's show. "Finally. A network tv show with full frontal nudity," the poster read. Technically, the advertisement is correct, seeing how Kermit doesn't wear pants. I mean, what self-respecting frog would wear Chinos?
What Is Happening, WWJD, Al Qaeda & Iran
The Washington political establishment largely views immigration as an economic issue. In their view, more workers, no matter where they come from, equal more taxpayers and greater economic growth. Many on the left and even some on the right see immigration as a humanitarian issue — whether they support open borders or feel compelled to support immigration out of a sense of compassion.
Senate Continues Arms Wrestling
Could America be facing another 9/11? Lawmakers trying to stop President Obama's Iranian deal think so. With two procedural votes in the win column for the president, conservatives are looking through every weapon in their arsenal to keep one of the most dangerous Middle East regimes from using theirs on innocent Americans. Although the administration is still withholding information on the agreement's side deals, what Congress does know is enough to scare anyone.