Jul
19
The Klan and Progressivism
July 19, 2010 | 11 Comments
Michael Zak does what all too many on the left fail to do: crack open some history books and take a real look at the history of the Ku Klux Klan. Zak correctly notes that when the Klan was at its zenith during the 1920s, it was a terrorist wing of the Democratic party, and [...]
Jul
2
“Scholars” rate Obama as 15th greatest President ever
July 2, 2010 | 11 Comments
So, why didn’t I stay in academics after I received my Ph.D? Lost of reasons, but right near the top of the list: having these types of mouthbreathers as my colleagues didn’t seem all that appealing. George W. Bush was no FDR, but Barack Obama could be. That’s the verdict of 238 of the nation’s [...]
Jun
28
The neoCon Delusion
June 28, 2010 | 11 Comments
With the title, some of you may have no doubt rolled your eyes, while several others may have uttered, “Finally!” It’s not what you think. The neoCons I speak of are not those nefarious (joooooooooish) conservatives who seek to take over the world through military might and by their ability to dupe Americans with their mind control [...]
May
14
Never forget
May 14, 2010 | 1 Comment
Ed Morrissey questions why we don’t seem to care about the old Soviet archives. These documents have the power to destroy the carefully constructed facade of Gorbachev by his Western apologists as somehow different from his Soviet predecessors. He was not; he could hardly have risen to the Politburo had he not been an advocate [...]
Apr
28
The Catholic Church and America
April 28, 2010 | Comments Off
Joe Hargrave has a terrific piece at Inside Catholic that explodes some of the myths about the inherent tensions between the Catholic Church and the American founding and early American history. First of all, the concept of religious liberty that eventually crystallized in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights was actually imported to [...]
Mar
23
America in Decline
March 23, 2010 | 2 Comments
Looking for a pick me up this morning? Then you probably better skip this Mark Steyn column. If you are looking for a sobering account of where we are headed, then it is an absolute must read.
Nov
24
Federalist 22 – Hamilton
November 24, 2009 | Comments Off
Alexander Hamilton continues to examine the deficiencies of the American confederacy in Federalist 22. He begins by noting the problems with regulating commerce under the current system. The want of a power to regulate commerce is by all parties allowed to be of the number. The utility of such a power has been anticipated under the [...]
Nov
18
Federalist 21 – Hamilton
November 18, 2009 | Comments Off
Having explored some of the theoretical and historical problems with confederacies in the general sense, Alexander Hamilton now moves the discussion towards the specific defects of the American confederacy. In Federalist 21, he begins to outline what he sees as the current system’s major flaws. His first topic is the lack of sanction behind the [...]
Nov
11
Before You Go
November 11, 2009 | Comments Off
Donald McClarey has a beautiful post about the World War II generation. Please go over and read it, as well as the other posts he has put up to remember the troops on this Veterans Day.
Nov
5
Federalist 17 – Hamilton
November 5, 2009 | Comments Off
In Federalist 17, Hamilton discusses the balance of power between national and state governments. He begins by laying out the reasons why people should not fear the augmentation of national power. An objection, of a nature different from that which has been stated and answered, in my last address, may perhaps be likewise urged against [...]
Nov
4
Federalist 16 – Hamilton
November 4, 2009 | Comments Off
Alexander Hamilton continues his categorization of the deficiencies of the confederate system in Federalist number 16 . In this essay he explains why a confederate system cannot truly enforce its own laws, and in fact will descend into anarchy. This exceptionable principle may, as truly as emphatically, be styled the parent of anarchy: It has [...]
Oct
27
Federalist 15 – Hamilton
October 27, 2009 | Comments Off
Alexander Hamilton commences his discussion of the deficiencies of confederacy with Federalist 15. Publius has alluded to this throughout the first 14 papers, but now he undertakes a concerted effort to demonstrate the insufficiency of the confederate form of government. This particular essay is even more polemical than is usual for Hamilton. So convinced is [...]
Oct
22
Federalist 14 – Madison
October 22, 2009 | Comments Off
Madison’s second contribution to the Federalist Papers is a second significant addition to the world of political theory. In it, he expands upon a point made in the tenth paper, and that’s the distinction between a republic and a democracy. It’s a distinction that we in the modern era fail to fully appreciate. Madison’s main [...]
Oct
20
Federalist 12 and 13 – Hamilton
October 20, 2009 | Comments Off
Alexander Hamilton continues his discussion of the commercial advantages of a Federal Union in the next two Federalist Papers. The 12th essay is concerned with the advantage that a consolidated Union will provide in terms of revenue collection. In so doing, Hamilton elaborates on a recurrent theme of the essays, namely that a division of [...]
Oct
15
Federalist 11 – Hamilton
October 15, 2009 | 1 Comment
With the 11th Federalist Paper, Hamilton covers a subject near and dear to his heart: commerce. Hamilton posits that another advantage of Union will be that it will better be able to promote commerce. Hamilton envisions America prospering as a commercial rather than agricultural economic power. In fact it can be argued that this is [...]
Oct
14
Federalist 10 – Madison (part two)
October 14, 2009 | Comments Off
Part one here. Madison returns to the discussion of factions by looking at the second grouping: controlling their effects. If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister views by regular vote. It may clog the administration, it may convulse [...]
Oct
14
Federalist 10 – Madison (part one)
October 14, 2009 | 1 Comment
We finally arrive at James Madison’s first contribution to the collaborative effort to advance the cause of ratification. Madison’s essay is perhaps – along with the 51st essay in the series - the most well-known of the Federalist Papers. This is a rare occasion where the hype is merited, and in fact the essay might [...]
Oct
7
Federalist 8 – Hamilton
October 7, 2009 | Comments Off
Regular Guy Paul helpfully pointed out that I had somehow skipped over Federalist 8. So excuse me for a moment as we backtrack and take a quick look at this number. Once again the theme here is the inevitable warring that would occur between the states if the Constitution was not ratified. Hamilton’s contention is [...]
Oct
6
Federalist 9 – Hamilton
October 6, 2009 | 2 Comments
In the ninth paper, Alexander Hamilton continues the theme that has been running through much of the early series of papers. Once again, Publius* seeks to celebrate the benefits of a single Union over separate confederacies. In this particular case, Hamilton anticipates the subject matter of Madison’s celebrated tenth paper. Before getting started on the [...]
Oct
1
Federalists 6 and 7 – Hamilton
October 1, 2009 | 1 Comment
Alexander Hamilton takes up his quill again to pen the next four Federalist Papers. The underlying theme is still the importance of a united Nation, but now Hamilton discusses the discord that will arise between the states if they form rival confederacies. At the start of the sixth paper, Hamilton touches upon a subject which [...]