In a speech at Disney World’s Cinderella Castle earlier this year, President Obama declared that “America is open for business.” For many, however, his declaration was little more than empty words. As a citizen of Brazil living here in Washington, D.C., I have experienced the tremendous hurdles that visitors to the United States must overcome. My hometown, Belo Horizonte, is the third largest metropolitan area in the country but does not have an American consulate. Therefore, in order to obtain a U.S. visa, residents of Belo Horizonte have to travel … More
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President Obama’s proposal to keep interest rates on one type of student loans below market level obscures the fact that, if Taxmageddon strikes, the tax hike young adults entering the workforce would face would vastly outpace the savings they might enjoy from Congress continuing to subsidize their interest rates. Taxmageddon is a massive tax hike that will strike all taxpayers—and the economy—on January 1, 2013, unless Congress and President Obama act to stop it. It is made up of a series of expiring tax policies, such as the Bush tax … More
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President Obama’s has repeatedly promised to rein in the influence industry’s role in federal policymaking and access to top federal officials. But the president’s actions consistently belie his rhetoric, as a recent review of White House visitor logs demonstrates. “[T]he lobbying industry Obama has vowed to constrain is a regular presence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave,” the Washington Post reported on Monday. Visitor logs “suggest that lobbyists with personal connections to the White House enjoy the easiest access,” the Post adds. The White House has consistently worked to circumvent its own … More
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In his May 9 announcement that he supports same-sex marriage, President Obama linked his stance to the Christian faith. In particular, he cast his view as being consistent with the Bible by quoting Jesus’ words from Matthew 7:12, known as the “Golden Rule.” Obama said: [The First Lady and I] are both practicing Christians and…when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you … More
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By Daniel Ikenson
Later today the U.S. Department of Commerce is expected to announce preliminary antidumping duties on solar panels from China. This case might normally be met with an exasperated sigh and chalked up as just another example of myopic, self-flagellating, capricious U.S. antidumping policy toward China. But in this instance the absurdity is magnified by the [...]
Solar Panels Trade Case Mocks Washington’s Ways is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
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By Michael F. Cannon
According to WSFA-12 News, Alabama legislators are working on legislation to create an ObamaCare Exchange. But: Governor Robert Bentley [R] will likely veto the bill. “This legislation is premature. The federal government has yet to establish clear guidelines for a health insurance exchange,” said Deputy Communications Director Jeremy King, in a statement to WSFA 12 News. “Also, [...]
Alabama Gov. Vows to Veto ObamaCare Exchange is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
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Last week, experts fired back at the assertion by an unnamed senior State Department official that “The war on terror is over.” Yet, according to a Rasmussen poll released today, it’s not just the experts who disagree. According to a telephone survey conducted by the well-known polling company, 79 percent of likely U.S. voters think the war on terror is not yet won. It’s good to see that while some Administration officials may have a skewed perspective, the vast majority of the American public has a firm grip on reality. … More
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By Tim Lynch
President Obama recently gave an interview to Rolling Stone and tried to defend his drug war policies–especially his escalation of the federal war against medical marijuana providers in California. Obama now says anyone who thought he was hoping he’d change course from the Bush-Ashcroft policies somehow got the wrong impression from his 2008 campaign. And, besides, he said you can’t [...]
Obama Is But a Small Cog in Drug War Machine is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
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In 1971, America was introduced to President Richard Nixon’s “Enemies List.” The President had instructed staff to keep a list of political opponents, and as then-White House Counsel John Dean described it, they would “use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies.” On the list were notable figures such as Paul Newman (actor), Charles Dyson (businessman), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), NPR newsman Daniel Schorr, Morton Halperin, a foreign policy expert and father to political journalist Mark Halperin, and others. This secret list was the subject of justifiable scorn … More
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By Michael F. Cannon
In today’s Wall Street Journal, Alan Blinder writes one of the most error-ridden and discourse-debasing op-eds I have ever read. About any topic. Ever. A sampling: [O]ur country was founded on the idea that the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable. Access to affordable health care is surely essential to two [...]
Alan Blinder Owes Me $5 for Wasting My Time is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
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