Supreme Court Says Texas Can Ban Confederate License Plates, Endangering Freedom Of Speech

The Supreme Court ruled that states don’t have to grant license plates that display the Confederate flag. Their decision has the potential to seriously harm the First Amendment.

The Treasury Department Wants To Put A Woman On The $10 Bill

Surely it’s time to put a woman on American currency again, but why go after Alexander Hamilton?

Turkish Governing Party Loses Parliamentary Majority In Elections

Turkey’s governing party suffered big setbacks at the ballot box yesterday.

Group Trying To Draft Elizabeth Warren To Run For President To Close Doors

The “Draft Warren” movement is basically dead.

Supreme Court To Decide Meaning Of “One Person, One Vote”

The Supreme Court accepted a case that will require the Justices to decide just what it meant when it established the “one person, one vote” rule for drawing legislative districts.

Obama Administration To Take Steps To Cut Back On Police Militarization

President Obama is taking steps to reduce police militarization, but there’s much more that needs to be done.

David Cameron To Propose Broad Expansion Of Powers To Crackdown On ‘Extremism’

Fresh off an election victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to propose a series of new measures to crackdown on extremism that raise serious civil liberties concerns.

Hillary Misrepresents Citizen’s United, Says She’ll Demand Promises To Overturn From Nominees

Hillary Clinton told supporters she’d require Supreme Court nominees to pledge to overturn Citizens United, a decision she completely misrepresented.

Political Experts Who Don’t Understand Politics

49 “experts in governance and democracy” to call for nonsensical reforms to the presidential debates.

Two Hostages, Including One American, Killed In Raid On Al Qaeda Targets

An attack on al Qaeda outposts in January resulted in the death of two hostages, but also resulted in the death of two high value al Qaeda targets.

US-Latin American Relations

Some thoughts on a column by Roger Noriega on the Obama administration and Latin America,

Harry Reid Doesn’t Regret Spreading False Charges About Mitt Romney’s Taxes

Harry Reid made outlandish claims about Mitt Romney during the 2012 election. He probably knew they were lies when he made them. And he doesn’t care.

Lee Kuan Yew’s Legacy

Modern Singapore’s founder passed away at age 91 earlier this week.

President Obama Supports Mandatory Voting, And He’s Wrong To Do So

President Obama thinks that it would be a good idea if everyone were forced to vote. He’s wrong, and his idea is most likely unconstitutional.

Should We Boycott Moron Clothing Designers?

Elton John is leading a boycott against Dolce & Gabbana.

Florida State Employees Ordered Not To Refer To “Climate Change” Or “Global Warming”

Don’t say “climate change” or “global warming” if you work for Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Supreme Court Justices Skeptical Of Non-Legislative Redistricting

The Supreme Court seems likely to strike down state laws that take redistricting completely out of the hands of state legislatures.

ISIS is What it Says it Is

The Atlantic has a fascinating cover story by Graeme Wood titled “What ISIS Really Wants.”

IR TOs WH NSS

Most in the international relations community are not amused by the president’s National Security Strategy.

King Abdullah Of Saudi Arabia Dies At 90, Crown Prince Salman Becomes King

A big change in an important nation in the most volatile part of the world.

Once Again, Elizabeth Warren Says She’s Not Running For President And, Once Again, Nobody Will Listen

Elizabeth Warren said once again that she’s not running for President, now or in the future. That’s not going to stop the efforts to draft her, though.

Russia’s Economic Problems Just Getting More Grim By The Day

For a year that started out with regaining long-lost territory in Ukraine, 2014 is not ending so well for Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Elizabeth Warren Isn’t Running For President, But Don’t Expect The Speculation To End Soon

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is not running for President, and she is unlikely to change her mind on that. Nonetheless, the speculation that she is will continue for some time to come because it suits her interests and the interests of others.

Sony Seeks To Scare Press Away From Publishing Information Obtained in Hacking Attack

Sony is warning the press not to publish material leaked by hackers, but it doesn’t have much of a legal leg to stand on.

Independent Prosecutors For Police Misconduct Cases Is An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Many have suggested that prosecution of cases involving police misconduct should be handled by prosecutors who don’t work with local police departments on a regular basis. They’re right.

Egyptian Court Drops Charges Against Mubarak, Further Cementing Renewed Military Rule

Well, so much for that “people’s revolt” that brought down a military dictator.

How Obama Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Imperial Presidency

A critic of the imperial presidency becomes an imperial president.

Scott Walker Wants To Drug Test Welfare Recipients, But It Doesn’t Work, And It’s Unconstitutional

A popular idea that does nothing useful while simultaneously violating the Constitution.

GOP Also Saw Gains In State Legislatures Last Week

In addition to gains at the national level and in Governor’s races, the GOP also saw more gains in state legislatures around the country.

Unopposed in House Elections

Looking into uncontested and partially contest House districts from the 2014 cycle.

Should Lawmaking Be Left to Congress?

Should the Legislature take back legislating from the Executive?

The Sixth Circuit Just Made Nationwide Same-Sex Marriage Even More Likely, And Closer To Reality

An unsurprising ruling from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that only seems to bring closer the day when same-sex marriage will be legal nationwide.

Low Turnout in Alabama

This year was an especially acute case of no competition in Alabama.

Stop Trying To Intimidate People Into Voting

There’s nothing wrong with choosing not to vote.

Slipping Support Among Key Groups, And Obama’s Job Approval, Have Democrats Worried

Important numbers in recent polling suggest big problems for Democrats on Tuesday.

The Phony Populism Of Politicians

Politicians on both sides of the aisle like to tell people they’re just “average Americans,” but they’re lying and the American people seem to have figured out that they’re lying.

Legendary Washington Post Editor Ben Bradlee Dies At 93

The passing of a true legend in American journalism.

Are Billionaires Replacing Political Parties?

Rich guys are backing organizations that are taking over traditional party functions. Is that a problem?

The Supreme Court Has A First Amendment Problem Right At Its Front Doorstep

The Roberts court has been very good on First Amendment issues, but it needs to address the First Amendment issue right outside its front windows.

Noncompetitive House Elections

My ongoing crusade to spark thought and discussion on the quality of representation in the US Congress.

Is Amazon a Monopoly?

Frank Foer proclaims, “Amazon Must Be Stopped. It’s too big. It’s cannibalizing the economy.”

Obama: “They” Underestimated ISIS

Apparently, the buck doesn’t stop in the Oval Office these days.

Second Term Blues?

The sixth year of a presidency leads to some predictable commentary (and some comparative notes).