Those following the debate over the New START treaty inked by Presidents Obama and Medvedev in April know that both governments dispute what it means. Russia says it’ll impose real restrictions on U.S. missile defenses. U.S. officials brush off those claims. The dispute centers on language in the preamble linking strategic offensive and defensive weapons and claiming such linkage “will become more important as strategic nuclear arms are reduced.” Treaty supporters in the U.S. say this language is merely rhetorical; it won’t restrict our ability to defend against missiles from …
The fireworks rarely fly on Sept. 17, but that holiday – Constitution Day – is just as significant as Independence Day. At least, that’s the thought behind a new joint venture of Constituting America and Let Freedom Ring. The two organizations have joined forces to promote a nationwide public reading of the Constitution one month from yesterday on Sept. 18, the Saturday following Constitution Day. The event – called “We Read the Constitution” – aims to inspire citizens across the country to host or attend local gatherings to read the …
The latest Democracy Corps poll, performed by Democratic pollsters Stan Greenberg, James Carville and Bob Shrum, shows that by a 64% – 29% margin, the American people believe that things in this country “have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track.” But nobody seems to have bothered to tell President Barack Obama who, on the second-to-last leg of a $4 million fundraising trip for Democrats, told a group of supporters in Columbus, Ohio: “Slowly but surely, we are moving in the right direction. We’re on the right track.” And …
Nothing is more important to Larry Patterson than his family. His four kids, who range from a 2-year-old to a college graduate, shape his outlook on life. They’re one of the primary reasons he’s concerned about the devastating consequences of Obamacare. Patterson has good reason to be worried. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act diminishes family choice of coverage, limits parental involvement and strikes a blow for family values in health care. Even with many of the new provisions years from implementation, Patterson is already bracing for the harsh …
Former US envoy to the United Nations John Bolton made headlines Monday when he told Fox Business News that Israel “has to move in the next eight days” or else Iran will bring its first nuclear reactor online August 21 with help from a Russian nuclear fuel shipment. “Once that uranium, once those fuel rods are very close to the reactor, certainly once they’re in the reactor, attacking it means a release of radiation, no question about it,” Bolton said, adding that without a military strike, “Iran will achieve something …
Did you know that the first female member of the Congress was elected prior to the ratification of the 19th amendment? It is true that today, August 18, 2010, marks the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, ensuring the right to vote regardless of sex. But that does not mean women weren’t exercising this right prior to 1920. The anniversary of the 19th amendment is an occasion to praise the women whose efforts in the suffrage movement secured this amendment. Too often, though, this praise becomes an …
Last week Rasmussen Reports released a poll of 1,000 American adults on national security issues. The results were not good news for President Barack Obama’s New START agenda. Some of the questions included:: How important is America’s nuclear weapons arsenal to the country’s national security? 51% Very important 26% Somewhat important 11% Not very important 4% Not at all likely 8% Not sure Should the United States reduce the number of nuclear weapons in its arsenal? 27% Yes 57% No 16% Not sure
Government workers probably aren’t overpaid, and even if they are, we shouldn’t care. This is Paul Krugman’s message in a recent blog post that takes on the critics of government pay. He is wrong on both counts. The Heritage Foundation has written extensively about public-private pay disparities, and we have found consistent evidence that government workers are overpaid, even after controlling for skill differences between the private and public sectors. Federal workers receive both wages and benefits above market levels. State and local workers receive sub-market wages, but they make …
The Obama Administration is apparently readying a “Fall Surprise” regarding its policy toward Cuba. The New York Times reports that the White House intends to ease restrictions on travel to Cuba and return to the “people-to-people” policies of the Clinton Administration. It will also reportedly make private assistance flows easier. Claimed one Democratic policy mandarin, the Administration has worked up “a smarter Cuba policy.” The decision to loosen restriction comes as Cuba’s mismanaged economy is again in free fall and seeks help from any quarter. Cubans recently were informed that …
Following billion dollar bailouts and stimulus packages, the Administration is hoping to find “savings” elsewhere in the federal budget. One of its targets is defense. According to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the “gusher” of defense spending “has been turned off, and will stay off for a good period of time.” His effort is misguided. It’s a political decision divorced from the reality of the threats we face. And it’s not a move Americans support. According to a new NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll, cutting defense is as unpopular as raising …
