Autiello: Will True Christianity Please Stand Up?
Nick Autiello, Contributor
The notion that homosexuality is a sin and un-Christian is one that is less than a hundred years old. It is wrong, and has no basis in scriptural or historical reality.
SASSO: The Coming New Year
James Sasso, Associate Editor
As the tumultuous 2011 comes down to its final day, this column could contain an obnoxious summary of the year’s extraordinary events. Rather than once again discussing the protests around the world, the death of Osama Bin Laden, Fukushima, America’s political ineptitude, Europe’s demise or the increasingly frightful weather patterns, here I attempt to predict what 2012 holds in store.
SASSO: Kicking the Can
James Sasso, Associate Editor
For one of the first times in his tenure as Speaker, John Boehner has made a statement with which every American, Republican or Democrat, should fully agree; the two-month Senate bipartisan extension of the payroll tax cut fails to fix the nation’s problems sufficiently. Providing a short-term band-aid to a long-term dilemma contradicts what a responsible government should accomplish, but fits the pattern of contemporary American politicking.
CIOCCI: A Foolish Consistency
Mitt Romney is guilty of serial hypocrisy, Newt Gingrich is guilty of being a public intellectual constantly scrutinized by the media and others, and Ron Paul never ceases to remind me about one of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”
AKMAN: Jon Huntsman’s Meaningless Campaign
Josh Akman, Columnist
Jon Huntsman did not participate in the CNN Debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. Short of his family and small (and getting smaller) campaign staff, no one really noticed. In a bizarre and counterproductive effort to impress New Hampshire voters Huntsman skipped the debate to protest Nevada moving its caucus ahead of New Hampshire’s, which has always been the nation’s first primary. It’s bizarre because no one else skipped the debate. It’s counterproductive because right now, Jon Huntsman is polling 6% in New Hampshire.
SASSO: The 99% Rising
James Sasso
Associate Editor
For the past month a movement has grown out of Zuccoti Park in New York with the potential to grab at the very heart of America’s problems. “We are the 99%” is not simply a catchy phrase used by frustrated jobless Americans , but a commentary on the disgraceful economic inequality that has arisen in the United States since the 1970s.
BLAIR: Welcome to the Age of Women
Paul Blair, Guest Columnist
2010 is the year of women, not because we will be electing a couple more women into office, but because they truly are engaging in our political discussion like never before. As they hold signs in protest, contribute to political campaigns and perhaps successfully run for office, they are involved like never before.
BILBO: The Real Ethnic Chauvinists
Tyler Bilbo, Columnist
The false tension that created in Arizona between American individualism and the cultural identities of ethnic minorities has the potential to significantly diminish a pluralistic landscape that has always characterized America.
LIFSON: What Happened to John McCain?
Matthew Lifson, Democrat
Is it too late for John McCain to redeem himself as a bipartisan force in the Senate, or will his grasps at conservatism further damage his legacy?
BARON: No Surprises in Virginia
Noah Baron, Religious Progressive
If you vote for a Republican, even one who “promises” to focus on economic issues, you can expect one who will make conservative moves on social issues, even if they are only in subtle (but important) ways.
BILBO: The Alarming Rise of GOProud
Tyler Bilbo, Democrat
Gay conservatives represent one of the most marginalized constituencies in American politics. As they struggle for acceptance among other conservatives, however, they cannot afford to damage the ongoing fight for equality.
BARON: Blunt Equality — Marijuana, Marriage, and Referenda
Maine decriminalizes marijuana but bans gay marriage — what happened and why.
Bilbo: Reaganvilles
The legacy of conservative fiscal policy in the inner-city.
BARON: So, You Want to be an Originalist?
The traditional conservative and libertarian approach to the law and the Constitution, taken to its logical conclusion, is truly frightening.
BARON: Re-Evaluating Moderation
Though blind adherence to a doctrine of ideological puritanism is obviously unhelpful to accomplishing much, I do indeed dare to wonder, aloud, of what inherent benefit there is in moderation.
Bilbo: Talk Radio: Effective Shortcut or Hate-Filled Garbage?
Talk Radio is an Uninformative Medium that Masquerades as a Legitimate Political Shortcut
BILBO: Post-Racial Cowardice
A nation of ideological cowards gives rise to a racist media.
MEYER: Big Government Goes Back to School
Barack Obama’s planned address to students is big government too close to home and too far away from parents.
ROGERS: Deeds & Donts
Barack Obama & Creigh Deeds both want to bring change, and are having similar problems. Are Team Obama and Blue Virginia sustainable coalitions?
BARON: Dispatches from Fake America
Liberals have been described as “unAmerican” – in reality, many liberals are just as patriotic as their conservative counterparts claim to be.
BARON: Conservatives, The Future Is Not Your BFF
A progressive’s response to conservative Alec Jacobs’ article, “Meghan McCain: The GOP Is Not Your BFF”