Thanksgiving recalls faith of our fathers

For anyone born in the last 50 years, “separation of church and state” is inculcated secular orthodoxy.  I well remember the family discussion during which my dad informed me that the phrase appears nowhere in the Constitution, and I recall spending the next two hours searching my history books in futility to prove him wrong.

That government is insulated from faith is a notion that survives only in historical ignorance.  Perhaps nothing disproves this fallacy more effectively than Thanksgiving Day, an official government holiday established for the purpose of acknowledging God’s blessing of America. (more…)

Our party failed, our principles didn’t

After being routed at the polls for two consecutive election cycles, Republicans are turning introspective, asking how the party fell out of favor so suddenly and how to correct course.

That introspection includes the inevitable catharsis that exacerbates tensions within the existing right-center political coalition.

Conservatives say moderates were too squishy, especially on spending matters.

Moderates say conservatives were too rigid, particularly on social issues.

Libertarians say both conservatives and moderates are correct in their diagnoses but wrong in their prescriptions. (more…)

Election reflections

As the dust settles after Election Day, it’s fair to say that Republicans deserved the thrashing we received. Unfortunately, some good Republicans (our own Bob Schaffer, to name one) lost undeservedly, and some embarrassments (Alaska Sen. Ted “7 Felonies and a Bridge to Nowhere” Stevens) won undeservedly.

Only time will tell if America will get what it expects from Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress.  We know, however, that many are destined for disappointment if only because so many expectations of Obama are irreconcilable with each other.

Polls indicate the public still desires fiscally conservative government and that Republicans were punished for failing to deliver on what should be our bedrock issue.  To Republicans who are frustrated that voters would turn to the party of even-bigger government, the message is clear:  voters want contrast, not a watered-down version of the Democrats’ agenda. (more…)