I saw a Facebook post which characterised the Jr. Jerry Falwell's recent comments about concealed carry and Islam as follows: This is probably what most people expect of Fundamentalists-- hyper conservative, right wing bigots who see anyone who disagrees with them as godless enemies. This is religious tribalism at its most basic element. We are …
From Free Speech to Filthy Speech
This little tidbit emerged from Geo-Strata's interview with Dr. J. Michael Duncan of Virginia Tech, justifiably characterised as a legend in his (and my) profession: Q. What was it like at Berkeley during the '60's? "Berkeley in the '60's" is typically required reading in U.S. history classes now. A. (Laughs). I'm surprised you ask this …
Our Foreign Policy Block
Damon Linker starts out his piece on American foreign policy with this predictable assertion: Unlike so many of the blustering Know Nothings trying to become the Republican nominee for president, Clinton and Kagan know a tremendous amount about the world. Clinton, in particular, sounds comfortable talking in granular detail about the intricacies of international affairs, …
Maybe the Turks Will Unfurl the Banner Named Barack
For those of us with long memories, an old conflict resurfaces: The shooting down of a Russian jet by Turkey is a "stab in the back" committed by "accomplices of terrorists", Vladimir Putin has said. The Sukhoi Su-24 was warned 10 times before being downed near the Syrian border by two Turkish F16 jets for violating the country's …
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Ending Authority Has Never Been the Problem
David Fowler's generally incisive piece on the current mess our institutions of "higher" learning are in repeats, unfortunately, a misconception that needs to be challenged. Down in the article he states the following: Relativism, by definition, must question anything that purports to be authoritative, and, of course, nothing can be authoritative if there is no …
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The Ivy League Finally Meets Its Match
In this case, from New York's Eastern Correctional Facility debate team: The debate team from New York's Eastern Correctional Facility has major bragging rights, after beating the national debate championship team from Harvard. In September, the inmates invited the Harvard team to the Napanoch prison for a friendly match. The Eastern Correctional Facility team was …
Thugocracy is a Tough Ruling Regime
That's what Rep. Jason Chaffetz found out the hard way: A Secret Service official’s allegedly deliberate decision to embarrass Rep. Jason Chaffetz could “give pause” to other lawmakers who have applied for federal jobs, cautioned former House Judiciary Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis...(t)he disturbing leak to two media outlets of Chaffetz’s rejected application for a Secret …
That's One Way to Get Christians Out of the Military
Appoint an openly gay man to be Secretary of the Army: President Obama, in a historic first for the Pentagon, has chosen to nominate Eric Fanning to lead the Army, a move that would make him the first openly gay civilian secretary of one of the military services. Two years ago I opined that it …
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Taking God's Place in Kentucky
It's everywhere: Rowan County, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis has gone to jail for refusing to sign off on same-sex civil marriages. The usual people are taking the usual positions; it's time for something a little different. First: it isn't a "rule of law" issue. Meaningful rule of law went out the window in this country …
Why I'm In No Hurry to Back a Republican Presidential Candidate
We're about a year out from the Republican National Convention, and already we're off to the races with one debate. Iowa and New Hampshire are already awash in visits, paid media and free media. The heat's on for Republicans to make up their minds about whom they plan to support. Let's start with the Republican …
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Positive Infinity 