It’s Actually Not the Most Important Election of Our Lifetime

The year was 1603. The previous monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, had just died with no direct heir and England had already endured years of instability. Elizabeth had taken the throne after the tumultuous reign of her half-sister, Mary I (also known as Bloody Mary), and had revived the fledgling English Reformation Mary had tried to… Continue reading It’s Actually Not the Most Important Election of Our Lifetime

Lessons from Napoleon: Statesmen Don’t Ask You To Ignore History

I am currently in the middle of the biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, and was struck by what he said to the French legislature during his coup. At this particular moment, he was trying to convince the legislature to scrap the constitution and give him control of the French government: You are on a volcano. The… Continue reading Lessons from Napoleon: Statesmen Don’t Ask You To Ignore History

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Carson vs. Fiorina: Should a Muslim be President?

Believe it or not, Carson and Fiorina actually agree on this more than you might think. In spite of what you might be reading on Facebook, their positions do not disqualify either one from being a viable option for conservatives. I’m going to analyze their positions closely in just a minute, but first let’s set… Continue reading Carson vs. Fiorina: Should a Muslim be President?

Additional Thoughts on the Confederate Flag Debate

When we Southerners do something, we do it big and loud. That includes scandal, drama, and controversy. As I’ve watched the ongoing Confederate flag debate since my last post, here are some additional thoughts that have come to mind, in no particular order. 1. This was a cultivated controversy. There wasn’t any talk about the Confederate… Continue reading Additional Thoughts on the Confederate Flag Debate

Why Removing the Confederate Flag Is the Wrong Response to the Charleston Shooting

There have been a number of responses to the tragic Charleston shooting earlier this week. There’s been an outpouring of grief, support, prayer, and most lately, renewed calls for the complete removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds. This is understandable. The guy was obviously a white supremacist and his car had a… Continue reading Why Removing the Confederate Flag Is the Wrong Response to the Charleston Shooting

Why I don’t support a Convention of States

There’s a lot of buzz about how a Convention of States (CoS) to amend the Constitution is the perfect solution for an out-of-control Federal government. The ugly truth, however, is that a Convention of States wouldn’t fix anything and would in all likelihood make things much worse. Here’s why.   1. The current Constitution isn’t… Continue reading Why I don’t support a Convention of States

The Independence Debate in Scotland Should Make Us Appreciate Our Constitution Even More

Tomorrow, Scotland will decide whether or not to formally split from England. I honestly don’t know how I’d vote if I were a Scot. There’s the Wallace-and-Bruce emotional case, and then there’s the “Rule Britannia” emotional case. If you look at the facts, you can make a case for both sides. But all that aside,… Continue reading The Independence Debate in Scotland Should Make Us Appreciate Our Constitution Even More

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Why Americans Shouldn’t Celebrate Bastille Day

On July 14th, the world celebrated Bastille Day, the French equivalent to the 4th of July. This day commemorates the French peasantry’s storming of the Bastille at the beginning of the French Revolution. This occurred only 13 years after the American Revolution, and there was pressure on our government to provide assistance to the French… Continue reading Why Americans Shouldn’t Celebrate Bastille Day

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The Most Important Trait in a Political Candidate

Does this look like an ambitious politician?

Daniel Hannan recently tweeted that the most important trait in a political candidate is reluctance. Of all the traits to look for in a political candidate, the most important is reluctance. — Daniel Hannan (@DanHannanMEP) December 10, 2013 That statement may come as a surprise. Today, just about anyone who shows promise as a political… Continue reading The Most Important Trait in a Political Candidate