Without question, Hurricane Irene struck a major blow to the United States’ East Coast over the weekend. At least 24 people have died, hundreds of thousands remain without power across the mid-Atlantic, and the estimates of direct costs of damage are in the range of billions of dollars. Our thoughts are with those who have suffered at the hands of the storm and who are beginning the process of rebuilding. As the effects of the storm continue with “epic” flooding being reported in Vermont, pundits and politicians alike are already calculating …
Liberals are busy trying to drum up controversy over Representative Eric Cantor’s (R–VA) calls for spending cuts in exchange for more aid to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Cantor is spot on, and we are thrilled to see someone finally trying to curb FEMA’s growth. Hurricane Irene provides Cantor with the ideal case for his positions. Despite the mass media’s hysterical fear-mongering over Hurricane Irene, the hurricane weakened as it got closer and closer to land. By the time it hit North Carolina, the eye had largely disintegrated and …
The search for Muammar Qadhafi has intensified after Libyan rebels seized most of Tripoli. The initial focus was on Qadhafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound and nearby apartment blocks in a neighborhood that contains many Qadhafi loyalists. Today, the chairman of the rebel Transitional National Council, Mustafa Abul Jalil, stated that the rebels have no concrete information on Qadhafi’s location. Although the erratic dictator had recently been thought to be in Tripoli, he has remained in hiding long enough that he may have escaped the disorganized noose fashioned by a poorly coordinated …
Today, upon inspecting the Philippine navy’s newest flagship, the 115-meter Gregario del Pilar, Philippine President Benigno Aquino declared that the ship “symbolises our newly acquired ability to guard, protect, and if necessary, fight for the interests of our country.” Vice Admiral Alexander Pama of the Philippine navy went further in expressing that the new flagship “symbolises the revival of the Philippine navy.” It is hard to believe then, after hearing such lofty praise, that this new flagship is actually a refurbished former U.S. Coast Guard vessel that was built in …
Sales of American flags have increased as the 9/11 anniversary draws near. These flags are a symbol to unite beneath, to honor America and our heroes. Hopefully, they can also serve as a reminder to remain vigilant in the fight to protect America and provide America’s defense with all the tools they need to continue the job of doing so. One flag sales website, NYCwebStore.com, said customer interest in 9/11 anniversary flags started in January and demand is currently 2-3 times more than in 2010 so far. Other flag stores …
Listen to your music on an iPod? Read news on an iPad? Cherish your beautifully minimalist iMac? Then you’ve benefited from the genius of Apple Inc.’s Steve Jobs. With the news this week of his decision to step down as CEO of the company, many have lauded his incredible successes in changing the way the world uses computers, consumes entertainment, and uses the Internet. But less has been said about the importance of his failures, the lessons Jobs learned, and what that can teach us about the free market. Nick …
On August 8, the Obama Administration announced it would begin granting waivers to states to allow them to opt out of the requirements of No Child Left Behind. But there’s a catch: If a state desires to obtain a waiver, it must also agree to sign on to requirements the Obama Administration sets forth. In response, last Friday Chairman John Kline (R–MN) of the House Education and the Workforce Committee stated: …the Obama Administration seems determined to override Congressional efforts to reform the law and enact a backdoor education agenda. …
The much-delayed 2011 Department of Defense (DOD) report on Chinese military and security developments highlights the growing Chinese emphasis on cyber security and cyberwarfare. As the report notes, “PRC military writings highlight the seizure of electromagnetic dominance in the early phases of a campaign.” Coinciding with the release of the DOD report, media coverage has emerged of a China Central Television (CCTV) video clip of Chinese cyber activities aimed at dissident organizations. The clip, shown on CCTV-7, the official military channel of the state-run CCTV network, included screenshots of a …
On Friday, the New York Times appended this correction to its front page article on Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA): An article on Aug. 15 about Representative Darrell Issa’s business dealings, using erroneous information that Mr. Issa’s family foundation filed with the Internal Revenue Service, referred incorrectly to his sale of an AIM mutual fund in 2008. A spokesman for the California Republican now says that the I.R.S. filing is “an incorrect document.” The spokesman, Frederick R. Hill, said that based on Mr. Issa’s private brokerage account records, which he made …
The President has publicly stated his intent to roll out a new expensive stimulus plan this fall. That plan is expected to contain hundreds of billions in new debt obligations to you, the taxpayer. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) has a better idea. He wrote a letter today to President Obama that identifies an effective means to stimulate growth. Reduce regulations that are a hidden tax on all Americans and killing private enterprise. Reducing the regulatory burden on the economy will spur economic growth. Speaker Boehner writes in …
