Written by Brandon Showalter
In a Feb. 10 Morning Consult/Politico poll, 47 percent of evangelicals said they support allowing religious groups to engage in political activity, whereas 34 percent do not. By contrast, 54 percent of Catholics and 69 percent of Jews oppose such participation by religious groups.
The survey also shows that 40 percent of evangelical voters believe that churches should be permitted to endorse political candidates, a higher figure than all other religious groups polled, while 41 percent said such endorsements should not be allowed.… Continue Reading
Written by Robert Knight
Anarchy takes many forms.
There is street violence, like that at the University of California at Berkeley last Wednesday, a microcosm of the anti-Trump rioting all over the country.
A mob protesting a planned speech by Breitbart writer and self-styled iconoclast Milo Yiannopoulos turned ugly as 1,500 gathered. Some were coaxed there by Occupy Oakland, whose website called for people to “Shut Down Milo at UC Berkeley.”
Some protesters wore black, used paramilitary tactics, threw bricks and fireworks at police, committed vandalism, and started a fire. … Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
Pat Hughes from “Upstream Ideas” recently recorded a scathing short video slamming state Senate Republican Minority Leader Christine Radogno for her participation in the crafting of a budget “compromise” which includes a tax increase on Illinois families. That video can be seen here: ‘Republican’ Minority Leader Radogno Looking Out For Herself Not You.
It should be noted that Sen. Radogno has been the senate GOP leader since 2009, and was recently reelected to that position by her fellow Republicans.… Continue Reading
Tags: Bruce Rauner, Chris Kennedy, Christine Radogno, Dan Proft, Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Republicans, Jeanne Ives, John Tillman, k-12 education, Michael Lucci, Pat Hughes, Steve Rauschenberger, Upstream Ideas
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | 
February 11, 2017 11:00 AM | 
Comments Off on Will Illinois Republican Politicians Lead or Raise Taxes?
Written by Daniel Horowitz
This week, President Donald Trump fulfilled his promise to nominate a very qualified and intelligent conservative judge. Neil Gorsuch is likely a very good pick. However, given the past history, the enormous post-constitutional pressure even in some circles of the conservative legal movement, and so much terrible court precedent, it is yet to be determined if Gorsuch has the resolve to not get sucked into the swamp.
This point was best encapsulated in a statement from U.S.… Continue Reading
Tags: Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Donald Trump, Edith Jones, Janice Rogers Brown, Neil Gorsuch, Obamacare, Obergefell, Priscilla Owen, Roe v. Wade, Ron DeSantis, Samuel Alito, SCOTUS
Federal Issues | David E. Smith | February 2, 2017 7:10 AM | Comments Off on 7 Reasons Neil Gorsuch’s Nomination is Only the Beginning of Taking Back the Judiciary
Written by Robert Knight
As any reporter can tell you, it’s far more fun to cover zany people and events than those exuding decency and restraint. The news business, like much of the entertainment media, thrives on mayhem.
In Disney’s animated classic “Fantasia,” the spectacular deviltry of “A Night on Bald Mountain” is followed by a peaceful march of candle-bearing believers after the morning sun dispatches the satanic hordes. The melodic strains of “Ave Maria” wash away any lingering creepiness. … Continue Reading
Written by Joshua Withrow
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. (A, 92%) has been nothing if not vocal about his belief that a new set of health care reforms should be voted on at the same time as a repeal of Obamacare. This week, Sen. Paul has revealed his proposal to replace Obamacare, by introducing S. 222, the Obamacare Replacement Act.
His bill is obviously designed to work in tandem with the partial repeal that was passed by Congress last year, in that it sweeps away the parts of Obamacare that the other bill leaves behind, particularly the regulations.… Continue Reading
Written by State Representative Jeanne Ives
No one should be surprised that group think instead of rational choices surround the 13 interconnected bills of the “Grand Bargain.” It is wholly predictable given the longevity of the Illinois Senate leaders involved. They’ve been working together for nearly 2 decades. They put in place many of the policies that are now taking a toll on our state.
They are the beneficiaries of generous pensions when they retire, excessive pay for their part-time jobs, and the public attention and stature of the positions they hold. … Continue Reading
Written by Tom Neven
Is there a constitutional principle so sacrosanct that it can abide no exceptions? Perhaps the First Amendment? Nope. Courts have placed reasonable restrictions on free speech and the practice of religion. You can’t libel someone, nor can you sacrifice live animals. The Second Amendment? No again, as any number of gun laws attest. One can find reasonable exceptions to just about every constitutional principle.
But 43 years ago, trawling through the penumbra and emanations of the Constitution, Justice Harry Blackmun found an inviolable right that had somehow evaded the Founding Fathers: the right to kill a child in utero—mere inches from being fully born, even—for any reason or no reason.
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Tags: abortion, Bernard Nathanson, Doe v. Bolton, Donald Trump, jurisprudence, March for Life, natural rights, Norma McCorvey, political process, representative government, Roe v. Wade, Ron Fitzsimmons, Sandra Cano, SCOTUS, Self-Government: U.S. Supreme Court
Federal Issues, Sanctity of Life | David E. Smith | January 28, 2017 7:00 AM | Comments Off on Roe v. Wade Is A ‘Jealous God’ That Demands Blood And Generates Rage
Written by Daniel Horowitz
What happens when Republicans pursue a half-baked repeal of Obamacare and sell it to the public as full repeal of Obamacare? Premiums go up because of the core Obamacare provisions left behind, yet that increase will be blamed on the false pretense that Obamacare was indeed repealed.
Earlier this week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a budgetary and economic score of the presumptive GOP plan to “replace” Obamacare. CBO concluded that not only will premiums fail to decrease, but will increase by 20-25% and 27 million more people would be uninsured.… Continue Reading
Written by Steve McCann
A recent phenomenon in American politics amid the conclaves of the media and academic elites is the stultifying debate over an outgoing president’s so-called “Legacy.” The nation now finds itself embroiled in this conversation as none other than Barack Obama, by his innumerable self-serving speeches, countless appearances on a multitude of media platforms and myriad gatherings with fawning supporters, has attempted to establish a positive spin on his legacy. He has far exceeded anything the previous occupants of the Oval Office have done to reinforce their image as they leave the White House behind. … Continue Reading
