What's Gone Wrong with Democracy?

The Economist magazine recently published "What's gone wrong with Democracy ... and what can be done to revive it?" The suggestion is that democracy is some kind of ideal for organizing human conduct. That's a popular misconception.
Walter E. Williams
March 24th, 2015 11:16 PM

Bob Costas: Gun-Rights Backers Want Ability to Buy Cop-Killer Bullets

This past Friday, sportscaster (and anti-gun advocate) Bob Costas was on HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher, where he scoffed at the criticism he’s received for making many anti-gun statements: “Is this what the Founding Fathers had in mind? … That private citizens should be able to purchase cop-killer, armor piercing bullets? That you should be able to have a AK-47?”
Melissa Mullins
March 24th, 2015 10:59 PM

Krauthammer Slams Obama, WH on Reaction to Israeli Spying Story

Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer appeared on the panel for Fox News’s Special Report on Tuesday evening and blasted President Barack Obama for refusing to directly comment on the Wall Street Journal report that Israel has been spying on the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear deal as well as the administration for acting as if Israel’s actions are unprecedented.
Curtis Houck
March 24th, 2015 10:17 PM

New Republic Writer 'Endorses' Obscure Republican Candidate

A writer for The New Republic has "endorsed" a Republican candidate for the presidency. Of course, to receive such an endorsement, such a candidate much have sufficiently liberal credentials to pass muster as well as have absolutely no chance of winning. Such a candidate is one Mark Everson who you probably never heard of since he is pretty much indistinguishable from a department store mannequin…
P.J. Gladnick
March 24th, 2015 10:01 PM

Nation Columnist: Right-Wing Pundits Seek to ‘Undermine Our Democracy'

The left-liberal magazine The Nation has just published its 150th-anniversary issue, which includes Alterman’s piece on the state of American conservatism. Alterman makes two main points. One is that conservatives are ideologues, whereas liberals are pragmatists. The other is that prominent righty pundits routinely spew nonsense not because they’re dumb, but because extremist plutocrats control…
Tom Johnson
March 24th, 2015 9:40 PM

Matthews Falsely Charges Sen. Cruz Voted Against Every Obama Appointee

Hardball host Chris Matthews was at it again tonight, comparing Sen. Ted Cruz to Joe McCarthy and prattling on with his usual hyperbolic bluster. But Matthews also misinformed his audience by insisting, twice, that the Texas Republican has never voted for an Obama appointee. That's demonstrably false. 
Ken Shepherd
March 24th, 2015 9:05 PM

Liberal Journos Applaud Hillary As She Jokes About Her Press Avoidance

Hillary Clinton keynoted an event stuffed with political journalists on Monday night, for the Robin Toner Prize, handed out by Syracuse University and named for a liberal New York Times reporter who died in 2008. Mrs. Clinton spoke for 20 minutes, and refused to take any questions. She won a standing ovation anyway. The prize was awarded to Washington Post chief correspondent Dan Balz, but the…
Tim Graham
March 24th, 2015 8:04 PM

Eureka! Univision Discovers Cruz Has Latino Support

Lo and behold, there are Latinos who support Senator Ted Cruz's candidacy for President of the United States. That was the discovery Univision made while covering the Texas Senator's presidential campaign announcement at Liberty University.
Ken Oliver-Méndez
March 24th, 2015 6:14 PM

NPR Finds Expert to Hint Cruz Eligibility Not an 'Open-and-Shut Case'

The birther issue is back. No, not the Obama birther crazies; the Ted Cruz birther crazies. In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR) on Monday's All Things Considered, Sarah Duggin of the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law claimed that Ted Cruz’s eligibility for the Presidency is not “an open-and-shut case” because “we don’t know precisely what the framers of the…

Bryan Ballas
March 24th, 2015 4:22 PM

Monica Lewinsky: New Feminist Media Icon?

Despite the fact that feminists attacked Monica Lewinsky during the Clinton-era, calling her “slutty” and a “trashy bimbo” among other things, feminists are now embracing her as an “inspiring” figure against the tide of “slut-shaming.” The change of tune came after Lewinsky gave an interview to Vanity Fair last year, where she called feminists out for attacking her in the 90s. Jessica Bennett…
Kristine Marsh
March 24th, 2015 4:20 PM

NYT on Ted Cruz's Debut: A 'Demagogue' and 'Flamethrower'

The New York Times on Monday welcomed Ted Cruz to the 2016 presidential race by highlighting accusations that the Texas Republican is a "demagogue" and a "political flamethrower." In a piece by Nick Corasaniti and Patrick Healy, the two writers declared, "He sometimes deploys the soaring diction of a preacher while staking out uncompromising and rigid conservative positions, often playing the…
Scott Whitlock
March 24th, 2015 4:06 PM

Obama Taps Washington Post Veteran Murray as Senior Adviser

To serve in his inner-most circle of trusted confidants, President Obama has selected someone who spent most of her adult life in a profession very friendly to him and eager to boost his liberal causes: journalism. Former Washington Post political reporter Shailagh Murray will succeed Dan Pfeiffer as Senior Adviser to the President.
Brent Baker
March 24th, 2015 3:46 PM

CNN's Phillips Plays Up 'Stigma' Against Atheism

Kyra Phillips promoted her upcoming documentary on atheism on Tuesday's CNN Tonight by asserting that "there's such a stigma on that word 'atheist.' People think devil worshiper – no moral compass." Phillips underlined how "there was a time where they just used the word 'atheist.' And now, you are hearing 'humanist,' 'nons,' 'skeptics,' 'free-thinkers.'..this is all the same thing. These are…
Matthew Balan
March 24th, 2015 3:25 PM

'Calling All GLAADiators': ABC, NBC Cheer 'Scandal' Star's LGBT Speech

On Monday, ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today hailed actress Kerry Washington for her speech to the left-wing gay rights group GLAAD. On GMA, fill-in news reader Paula Faris proclaimed: "Calling all GLAADiators. Scandal star Kerry Washington trending big all weekend, giving a passionate speech as she accepted the Vanguard Award at the 2015 GLAAD Media Awards held in L.A. on Saturday night…
Kyle Drennen
March 24th, 2015 2:55 PM