The Death Penalty Debacle By Susan Estrich
California has more prisoners on death row than any other state. Last year, according to the Los Angeles Times, it added 28 more, for a total of 717, contrary to trends elsewhere.
Political Commentary
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December 31, 2010
December 30, 2010
New Soldiers in the Fight Against the Drug War By Froma Harrop
Profound thanks are due televangelist Pat Robertson for stating so clearly what many of us have been screaming in the wilderness for years -- that the criminalization of marijuana is a plague on young people. May he lend courage to politicians who know better but won't do the right thing for fear of seeming "soft" on drugs.
December 30, 2010
Is Hacking Your Spouse's E-Mail Truly a Crime? By Debra J. Saunders
Michigan prosecutor Jessica R. Cooper's bio boasts that she is a "pioneer in the world of women in the law." As it turns out, she is a pioneer in the world of busybodies in the law as well. Cooper is the Oakland County prosecutor who charged Leon Walker, 33, with a felony for hacking into his now ex-wife's e-mail, as he suspected that she was having an affair.
December 29, 2010
No Comeback for New Comeback Kid By Tony Blankley
Don't believe all the Washington talk that President Obama had a great lame duck session and goes into the new year and the new 112th congress with the whip hand. Utter nonsense.
December 29, 2010
Zachary Furnish-John By Susan Estrich
Born on Christmas day in California to a surrogate mother, weighing in at 7 pounds 15 ounces.
The son of proud fathers Sir Elton John and his civil partner David Furnish.
No statement as to whether or which of the two was the sperm donor.
December 28, 2010
Libya and Oil Spell Commercial Warfare By Debra J. Saunders
Twenty-two years ago last week, Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Scotland. The terrorist attack killed 270 people, including 189 Americans and 11 Scots on the ground in the small village of Lockerbie.
December 28, 2010
How the Kardashians Can Really Shock Us By Froma Harrop
If you don't already know about the Kardashian sisters, you probably don't want to know. Kourtney, Kim and Khloe have grown very rich dressing like tramps and otherwise exhibiting themselves, including sessions on the toilet (viewable on their E! channel program, "Keeping up With the Kardashians").
December 27, 2010
Even After Shellacking, Obama Looks OK in 2012 By Michael Barone
On the day after Boxing Day, it's worth noting that Barack Obama is down but not out.
December 26, 2010
The Silliest Stories of 2010 By Debra J. Saunders
2010 was a year consumed with silly stories. The more trivial the controversy, the more airtime it consumed. Although not all the silly stories made conservatives look stupid, the more a squabble tarnished the right, the surer it was to generate talking-head babble. And then they fizzle, as most non-stories do.
December 24, 2010
Obama the Genius By Susan Estrich
Was it only a month ago that the chattering class was writing off the president as being almost as thoroughly defeated as the lame duck Congress, as the failed leader who had lost his way, popularity plummeting, accomplishments vulnerable? Insiders worried about who was up next.
December 24, 2010
The Right GOP Immigration Package By Debra J. Saunders
The controversial anti-immigration bill passed by Arizona lawmakers this year helped and hurt the Democrats in the November election. President Obama used it when he told Latinos that they should vote to "punish our enemies" and "reward our friends" by voting Democratic. In California and Nevada, Latino voters clearly heeded that advice.
December 24, 2010
Census: Fast Growth in States With No Income Tax By Michael Barone
For those of us who are demographic buffs, Christmas came four days early when Census Bureau Director Robert Groves announced yesterday the first results of the 2010 Census and the reapportionment of House seats (and therefore electoral votes) among the states.
December 23, 2010
Slow-Growing Population? Great! By Froma Harrop
The analysis of the new census numbers were predictable, and I take issue with nearly every one. Let's start with the suggestion that population rising at the lowest rate since the Great Depression is to be lamented. Anything likened to the Great Depression can't be a positive development, right? Wrong.
December 23, 2010
Sept. 11 Heroes Disdained on the Right By Joe Conason
To understand the depths of shame and cynicism in the partisan stalling of health legislation for 9/11 first responders, it is only necessary to recall how eagerly Republican politicians once rushed to identify themselves with New York City's finest and bravest.
December 23, 2010
Stopping the Descent By Howard Rich
At long last there are finally signs that the American Republic’s breakneck descent into full-blown socialist madness – which was fast approaching terminal velocity prior to November’s elections – could be leveling out.
December 22, 2010
The American Miracle By Tony Blankley
A few years ago, I was in China and, through the help of a friend, had the chance to spend a few hours with a senior editor of the People's Daily --the Communist Party's voice, and the most influential journal in China.
December 22, 2010
It Never Rains in California By Susan Estrich
It Never Rains in California Except when it does. Which isn't often. Usually, when it rains, we apologize to tourists and visitors, take out our (perpetually) almost new raincoats and say things like "We need this" and "Don't you just love the rain?"
December 21, 2010
Can We Break the China Habit? By Froma Harrop
It's been tough watching fellow shoppers fill their carts with Chinese imports as the People's Republic stomps on American interests and values. At WalMart, Bed Bath & Beyond and other big chains, it's hard to find goods NOT-made-in-China. Lamps, popcorn makers, kitty scratch boards. Cuisinart toasters and Emeril cookware. Made in China.
December 21, 2010
President Obama Governs as Bush 44 By Debra J. Saunders
Once upon a time in America, when George W. Bush served as America's 43rd president, Democrats criticized the Bush tax cuts, especially for the wealthy. This month, President Obama called a measure extending all the Bush tax rates "a win for our economy" -- after excoriating liberal critics of his compromise tax package as "sanctimonious."
December 20, 2010
Reid and Pelosi Finally Get Mugged by Public Opinion By Michael Barone
Elections have consequences. The consequences of the November 2010 elections -- and one might add the November 2009 elections in New Jersey and Virginia and the January 2010 special Senate election in Massachusetts -- became clear as lights shined over the snow at both ends of the Capitol on Thursday night.
