Free Republic

Despite important and far-reaching policy wins by the Trump Administration, America has much to be ashamed of recently. Today is notable for the release of the so-called “Nunes Memo,” showing, in its own words “findings which . . . 1) raise concerns with the legitimacy and legality of certain DOJ and FBI interactions with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), and 2) represent a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses related to” FBI surveillance of American citizens. While there is much nuance which can be discussed, the Nunes Memo essentially discloses that the...

The world has watched, seemingly without recourse, as North Korea continues to rapidly develop intercontinental nuclear missile capabilities. After two recent tests, experts now believe North Korea could strike as far as Chicago or London. Those favoring diplomacy above all else—which has utterly failed over the past 25 years—must realize that North Korea is on the cusp of being able to threaten every US citizen on a whim. Now, according to a report released by the Defense Intelligence Agency, North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that will fit its ballistic missiles. While North Korea may not yet...

For months now, the country has waited with interminable patience to see what the Trump Administration would do with healthcare policy. Few believed the Affordable Care Act—Obamacare—was ever a perfect solution, and Republicans spent 7 years campaigning on its immediate repeal. But even though several healthcare exchanges are collapsing and millions around the country are in danger of losing healthcare services provided by Obamacare, Republicans have had a difficult time figuring out how to go from the party of “no Obamacare” to the party of healthcare solutions. After much wrangling, the House eventually passed a bill that was imperfect in...

Yesterday, the Treasury Department released a much-anticipated plan to pare back the regulatory state that has neutered our economy over the past several years. Chief among Treasury's concerns was the role the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) has taken to over-regulate and generally terrorize the banking and financial services industries. Far from helping consumers, the CFPB has sought to stay in the headlines by demanding huge punitive fines in lieu of investigating financial services companies to death. Its current (and founding) director--Richard Cordray—seems to style himself as the Doc Holliday of the financial world. Never afraid of the limelight, he...

With all of the media noise surrounding the Trump Administration and the constant allegations of “Russian hacking of the election” (because, it’s far easier to believe the electorate was somehow duped by the Russians, rather than the fact it simply disliked Hillary Clinton), I thought I’d remind conservatives of some of the Trump Administration’s accomplishments in the first 100 days in office. Most of these weren’t discussed at length in the press, but will have a profound impact on our daily lives, and will undue a decent chunk of the harm President Obama did to the country over the last...

There comes a time within the bounds of human decency and national consciousness where the populace needs to stand up and declare that “enough is enough.” With regard to the political discourse in America, that time is now. On the evening of May 1, late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert decided to push well beyond the confines of acceptable political dialogue. When speaking of Trump’s first 100 days in office, he dove deep into the realm of crass, witless, maliciously defamatory humor that is neither acceptable within our honorable society nor protected by the Constitution of the United States. In...

North Korea, the troglodyte equivalent of a nation state run by a 33 year-old dictator with a penchant for bad haircuts and worse suits, has been an international pariah for decades. Since the fall of the Soviet Bloc in 1991, and a devastating famine between 1995 and 1998, its actions have become more desperate and dangerous. In a never-ending quest for food and fuel aid, it has acted the part of a petulant child, committing increasingly-hostile military provocations which only temporarily diminish when someone provides a handout. The US has tried time-and-again to negotiate with North Korea, to no avail....

On Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime launched a chemical weapon attack against his own people—many of whom were sleeping. Over 70 men, women, and many small children were killed by the nerve agent Sarin, which generally causes agonizing asphyxiation and death. According to CNN, Assad denied he had used the nerve agent on his own people, insisting, instead, that a routine bombing mission hit a rebel-operated nerve gas “factory.” Assad employed a similar excuse after a 2013 Sarin gas attack, arguing anyone could make Sarin, which he called the “kitchen gas.” Needless to say, chemical weapons experts find this...

Since last summer, we’ve witnessed a firestorm of nonstop media coverage about alleged Russian meddling in our election process. Questions arose regarding targets of Russian hacking and communications. Certain outlets (incorrectly) reported that Russia went so far as to hack voting machines and/or paper ballots in battleground states. A liberal shibboleth no less impressive than Harvard Professor Laurence Tribe has been quoted by the Washington Post as stating Trump’s presidency has been “rendered illegitimate by treasonous or otherwise unlawful manipulation.” While I completely disagree with Prof. Tribe’s assertions on presidential legitimacy, I think his mention of “treasonous or otherwise unlawful...

The Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare—the American Health Care Act—finally came up for a final vote in the House. First put forward by Speaker Paul Ryan in 2009, it offered few surprises to Republicans. And the effort itself was very familiar, as Republicans had voted over 60 times to repeal Obamacare since its passage eight years ago. Yet, when the time came to exercise the prerogative of the majority and finally repeal and replace President Obama’s deeply flawed social program, Republicans came up short. Over the past two weeks, moderate Republicans argued that they could not vote for...

Due to the unfortunate passing of Justice Scalia in February of 2016, the United States Senate recently began confirmation hearings for President Trump’s pick to take his seat on the Supreme Court—Judge Neil Gorsuch of the 10th Circuit. Judge Gorsuch has received almost universal acclamation from those on the Right. He is admired for his even temperament, his common sense, his dedication to originalism and textualism, and his belief that judges shouldn’t employ an “outcome based” judicial activism. Despite being unanimously confirmed to his post on the 10th Circuit by the Senate in 2006, the Left is now opposing his...

Since the election, Liberals and the liberal media have been fixated on whether or not President Trump and/or his campaign somehow colluded with Russia to “throw” the election in his favor. They are convinced this must have happened, because they can’t seem to fathom how their anointed candidate could have otherwise lost? It’s been non-stop Russia coverage since November. Who talked to a Russian? Who thought about a Russian? Who listened to Tchaikovsky once, even if it was years ago? Liberals are demanding answers, and they are demanding them now. You’d think Sen. Joseph McCarthy was a closeted Democrat, judging...

Tonight, President Trump delivered a memorable speech to a joint session of Congress that even reluctant commentators compared to Reagan, and others said was one of the finest ever delivered. Chris Wallace went so far as to say that "tonight, Donald Trump became President of the United States." It was a fantastic speech. One of the best--maybe the best--I've ever seen. But, it wasn't a traditional Republican speech. It was better. It had a higher purpose than partisanship. It came from a more egalitarian and justice-driven place. Far from the "benefits for the rich, at the expense of the poor"...

Tonight, President Trump delivered a memorable speech to a joint session of Congress that even reluctant commentators compared to Reagan, and others said was one of the finest ever delivered. Chris Wallace went so far as to say that "tonight, Donald Trump became President of the United States." It was a fantastic speech. One of the best--maybe the best--I've ever seen. But, it wasn't a traditional Republican speech. It was better. It had a higher purpose than partisanship. It came from a more egalitarian and justice-driven place. Far from the "benefits for the rich, at the expense of the poor"...

We’re not even a month into the Trump Administration, and liberal thoughts have irrationally moved from hoping and planning for Hillary Clinton’s third run for President to just plain silliness—President Trump’s resignation or impeachment. To me, this signals good things. I haven’t seen liberals this upset and powerless for decades. While I believe liberal tears will keep me young, I just can’t understand how such smart people could be so seriously delusional. I recently read a Hoover Institution article by the “classically liberal” NYU law professor Richard Epstein, who suggested that President Trump should immediately resign. Not because of Trump’s...

This week, a 3 judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower-court temporary restraining order ("TRO") which held that the US Government could not enforce President Trump's executive order on immigration. The ruling really comes as no surprise--after all, two of the Judges on the 3 Judge panel were appointed by Presidents Carter and Obama, respectively. And it IS the 9th Circuit, which is not exactly a hotbed of conservative thought. After hearing the oral arguments, my only question was whether it would be a 2-1 ruling against President Trump, or a 3-0 ruling. Turns out,...

I'll be honest: I'm the result of a private school education, Kindergarten through Law School. My wife, however, is the exact opposite—a product of only public school. My mother-in-law is the product of public school, and was a public school elementary teacher and administrator for over 30 years. My parents went to public schools K-12. I think all of us turned out just fine. There are some excellent public schools in this country, just like there are some excellent private schools. I'm thankful for the education I received and thankful my parents could afford the choices they made for my...