Morning Briefing
For April 9, 2013
1. When the Right Decided to Go Left, Thatcher Went Right
My friend Ben Domenech has a must read post on the passing of Margaret Thatcher. I would consider it necessary reading for Republicans and conservatives in America right now.
In the 70′s the British Conservative Party had lost its way. Like in the United States, the left was on the rise, Soviets were on the march, and people began to accept the decline of their nation. Today, we’re at the point again, but instead of Soviets, we have the Chicoms.
As Domenech writes, “Ted Heath, the Mitch McConnell of his day, had won the Prime Ministership stressing more free market views, but then embarked on all sorts of disconcerting steps: income and price controls, dropping his labor union reforms like a hot rock, subsidies for industry cronies, nationalizing Rolls Royce.”
Heath collapsed, the public rejected him, and Thatcher set about taking over. No one took her seriously. They did not take her seriously because she was a woman and because she was a conservative. The press and intellectuals assumed that, upon election, Thatcher would moderate her views. She did no such thing.
She ridiculed the state, championed individual liberty, and had an unapologetic optimistic patriotism in her that led her to an undefeated career as British Prime Minister.
We could use some of that these days here. The right should stay right. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
2. About That RNC Declaration of War on Conservative Grassroots
A whole lot of people have sent me this Breitbart story asking for my comment on it.
I’m not exactly known for being friendly with the establishment these days and it comports with everything I think about them. I’m not surprised by it at all.
But a bunch of people who attended the meeting are defending Mike Shields. They tell me he was mischaracterized. They tell me he did not mean to attack the “grassroots” per se and that he had specific targets in mind.
You know what? I don’t care. You know why? Because I agree with Mike Shields and I’m glad he said it.
The professional right needs to be blown up. My regret is that he and those around him claim he was not going as far as it is claimed he went. I would want him to go further.
I am in the same boat Mike Shields is in. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
3. EXCLUSIVE: McConnell to Filibuster Reid Gun Control Bill
Senator Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has confirmed he will filibuster new gun control legislation, spokesman Brian McGuire confirmed for me today.
While nobody knows yet what Senator Reid’s plan is for the gun bill, if he chooses to file cloture on the motion to proceed to the Reid Bill (S. 649), Senator McConnell will oppose cloture on proceeding to that bill.
The future of the legislation could depend on the success of a Republican mounted filibuster which has seen some opposition from the moderate wing of the party with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) questioning its purpose and asking “what are we afraid of?” . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
4. All Your Kids Are Belong to Us
This is profoundly unbelievable. Professor Melissa Harris-Perry of Tulane and MSNBC fame wants us to start treating children as property of the state.… So kids belong to whole communities? Didn’t we fight a war back in the 1800s to prove that people weren’t owned by the state or anyone else, but were, in fact, people? Seriously?
But take that out of it. This is amazingly stupid commentary. All of us who own property (real property, not children) pay property taxes to fund a public education system to educate our children. We have democratically elected school boards to make the decisions on how to collectively educate our kids to common, state approved standards.
It is failing spectacularly. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
5. Court Defies HHS on Plan B
To be to the left of President Obama on the issue of abortion seemed an impossible task, until Friday’s ruling by Federal Judge Edward Korman. Defying Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, with whom the president sided on the issue, Korman ruled that the FDA may not stand in the way of the emergency contraceptive, Plan B, being sold over-the-counter with no restrictions on age. Prior to his decision, Plan B was only available without prescription to women over the age of 17. While Sebelius had argued that an 11 year old girl may not understand how to use the drug properly, Korman wrote, “These emergency contraceptives would be among the safest drugs sold over-the-counter. The number of 11-year-olds using these (morning-after) drugs is likely to be minuscule.” Additionally, Korman accused Sebelius’ prior decision to restrict access to Plan B of being, “politically motivated, scientifically unjustified and contrary to agency precedent.” Unfortunately, not only does Korman not have a scientific leg to stand on but the potential for abuses of Plan B’s newfound availability are widespread. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
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