June 19, 2014
Murder on the Cantor Express
One of my favorite movies is “Murder on the Orient Express.” Hercule Poirot investigates who murdered Mr. Ratchett, played by Richard Widmark in the movie. It turns out that just about every major character, other than Poirot, had a hand...
June 18, 2014
Eric Cantor vs. the Populists
originally posted on wsj.com; June 12, 2014 Rep. Eric Cantor’s surprising primary loss provides a fascinating glimpse into the economic debate that has riven the Republican Party. It’s a confusing mess that breaks down ideologically, geographically and, most important, along...
June 18, 2014
Picking GOP leadership
originally posted to thehill.com – June 16, 2014 This week, House Republicans will conduct leadership elections to replace Eric Cantor as House majority leader, after he surprisingly lost his reelection bid last week. Congressional leadership elections are unique. They are...
June 18, 2014
Why is the Federal government so big anyway?
If you ever have any hopes of diminishing the power of Washington, you need to have an understanding as to why it has grown so large in the first place. Some might cynically say that it is Washington bureaucrats that...
June 16, 2014
Suburban Revolutionaries Redux
Ashley Parker and Jonathan Martin had a fascinating story about how demographic changes helped to power two challengers to entrenched Republicans in primary battles over the last couple of weeks. “In both states, the growth fueled by a migration of...
June 13, 2014
The Dangers of Passive Power
Even before Richard Nixon resigned after Watergate, Congress had grown weary of the Vietnam War. Shortly after he was reelected in November of 1973, Congress passed the Case-Church Amendment by veto proof majorities, which severely limited further military activity in...