Tea Party Nexus

Mideast: Critics of the Gulf wars to this day say Iraq had no real intention of building nuclear arms. They might be right. A book released this week makes the case that Saddam Hussein wanted to buy his bombs. According to "Peddling Peril: How the Secret Nuclear Trade Arms America's Enemies," Saddam seriously considered buying a nuclear package from rogue atomic scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan of Pakistan. Author David Albright, a former United

Commerce: A key part of the president's much-awaited strategy for economic recovery came with Thursday's unveiling of two blue-ribbon panels on exports. Here's a better idea: Pass the pending free-trade pacts. President Obama set a goal to double U.S. exports in five years in his State of the Union speech, vaguely citing it as a means of promoting economic recovery and jobs. "In a time when millions of Americans are out of work, boosting our

Health Reform: The chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., has found a new way to ram big government health care down an unwilling America's throat: pass it without a vote. If Republicans go along with Democratic leaders' latest strategy to enact ObamaCare, the GOP will find itself forever blamed for creating a new third party. If you thought using budget reconciliation rules to shove through health reform was dastardly,

Federal Spending: It's a good thing President Obama isn't in the private sector. If he was, the budget he just put forward for the next 10 years just might get him indicted for fraud. Of all the promises the president made during the 2008 presidential campaign and last year's budget debates, none rings so hollow now as the pledge of "fiscal responsibility." As a recent nonpartisan analysis by the Congressional Budget Office shows, our current

The bubbly enthusiasm that many analysts express about the Chinese economy reminds me of the old-time variety show host Lawrence Welk, who banished worries each week with soothing sounds from his "Champagne Music Makers." China watchers should turn off the music and listen to Premier Wen Jiabao, who has been surprisingly frank in warning that overinvestment and lack of domestic demand are producing an economic bubble in his country. "The biggest

On Wednesday in Missouri, President Obama delivered his 37th speech promoting his health reform proposal, despite sustained opposition from inside and outside his own party. Previous arguments didn't sell. In early 2009, he couldn't convince fiscal conservatives with his pitch that "health reform is deficit reduction." In late 2009, middle America wasn't persuaded that 2,000 pages of statutes were necessary to cover pre-existing conditions. Early

The most disturbing part of the Obama-Care debate is not about where Republicans and Democrats disagree, but where they agree. Take this issue of those with pre-existing illnesses. Many Republicans actually support government action to prevent insurance companies from refusing to insure them. Ignoring the benefits of cost-lowering free market competition and the role of charity, many Republicans believe it acceptable to force an insurance company

Investors who have been paying close attention to the tax provisions of ObamaCare for the past year are no strangers to its new tax increases. There are tax hikes on medical device manufacturers, health insurance company CEOs, families of special needs children and (strangest of all) tanning salons. Yet the White House's "compromise" health care outline released in February contains a damaging new tax hike on investors — a 2.9% surtax on "unearned

About two dozen members of the Southeast Texas Tea Party met this afternoon in a conference room at U.S. Rep. Ted Poe's conference room downtown.

They are occasioned by a recent commentary from Keith Olbermann, of MSNBC. The commentary — you can find it on YouTube — scored the tea party movement as the outcry of people who haven't yet made peace with the fact that their president is black.

Auto Safety: As a Toyota Prius with a stuck accelerator races down a California freeway, no one mourns the victims of the fuel economy standards imposed by Congress. Forced into smaller cars, thousands have died. We can barely imagine the panic felt by James Sikes, 61, as his Toyota Prius accelerated uncontrollably while he drove down Interstate 8 in San Diego County. We can imagine the continuation of the grandstanding by the owners of

Urban Decline: Detroit was once the epitome of an industrial boomtown. From 1900 to 1930, it was the fastest growing city in the world. Now, ravaged by recession and a plummeting population, the city is shrinking. As recently as 1950, Detroit was a manufacturing mecca, bustling with 1.9 million residents and the energy of thousands of workers at a dozen auto companies, not to mention the industries, shops and stores that sprang up to service them.

War On Terror: As drone-fired missiles rain down on Pakistan's remote tribal area, more high-value targets are turning up in its cities. The hunt for Osama bin Laden should shift accordingly. This week an al-Qaida leader — Abu Yahya Mujahdeen al-Adam — was nabbed in Karachi (initial reports confused him with al-Qaida spokesman Adam Gadahn). Several Taliban leaders also have been caught recently in Pakistan's largest city. In fact, fully half the

Separation Of Powers: Waiting until asked, Chief Justice John Roberts finally expressed outrage at the intimidation of the Supreme Court during January's State of the Union. "Bully pulpit" has a new meaning. On Aug. 27, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention discussed possible friction between the judicial branch and the other two. James Wilson of Pennsylvania worried that "judges would be in a bad situation if made to depend on every

Bay Area Tea Party members and like-minded conservatives flocked to Mill Valley on Sunday for a “Conservative Groupa-Palooza,” a ticket-only event that drew more than 500 attendees to the Mill Valley Community Center’s Cascade Room.

During the recent summit on health care reform, Republican leader John Boehner told President Obama that he and his colleagues believe the central funding mechanism underlying the president's latest reform proposal — the individual mandate — is unconstitutional. This language would require every American to purchase a product — health insurance. It also has appeared in every serious proposal since ClintonCare in 1993, including the proposals now

The recent Securities and Exchange Commission "interpretive guidance" on climate change says companies should disclose not only potential risks from climate change, but also risks from climate-related legislation, regulation, international accords and effects on business trends. Socially responsible companies will seize the opportunity to educate citizens, protect the interests of investors, employees and customers, and safeguard the well-being of

There are legislative miles to go before the government will be emancipated from its health care myopia, but it is not too soon for a summing up. Whether all or nothing of the legislation becomes law, Barack Obama has refuted critics who call him a radical. He has shown himself to be a timid progressive. His timidity was displayed when he flinched from fighting for the boldness the nation needs — a transition from the irrationality of

There is a great divide in American politics. It's not between Democrats and Republicans. It's between the president and Congress in Washington, on one side, and governors and legislators around the country on the other. The record of the Washington politicians is summarized in the report that came out of the Congressional Budget Office last week. That nonpartisan scorekeeper announced that it projects the cumulative national debt to increase in

No tea party in Jupiter

Last week, I wrote a piece about the tea party movement and the obvious through-line of race, race-baiting, racism and the use of the Southern...

Bay Area Tea Party members and like-minded conservatives flocked to Mill Valley on Sunday for a “Conservative Groupa-Palooza,” a ticket-only event that drew more than 500 attendees to the Mill Valley Community Center’s Cascade Room.

Virginia's Fifth Congressional District seems ripe for a Republican victory -- unless the conservative passion of the Tea Party movement trumps political pragmatism

Virginia's Fifth District seems ripe for a Republican victory -- unless conservative passion trumps political pragmatism

Karl Rove says Tea Party activists, who want to limit taxes and government's reach, could expand their clout if they emulate the 1960s civil rights movement, the gun rights movement and abortion opponents.

Rove, 59, calls President Obama "undisciplined, unengaged, aloof and focused on the wrong things" and suggests that if Obama's health care overhaul fails, he will revert to a more limited agenda.

Karl Rove says Tea Party is risky for the GOP

Karl Rove, the architect of George W. Bush's presidency, says the Tea Party movement could have lasting influence in the nation's politics if it remains decentralized but could hurt Republicans if it backs third-party candidates who siphon votes from GOP candidates. 'There's a danger from them, particularly if they're used by political operators . . . to try and hijack' elections, he says.

Karl Rove, the architect of George W. Bush's presidency, says the Tea Party movement could have lasting influence in the nation's politics if it remains decentralized but could hurt Republicans if it backs third-party candidates who siphon votes from GOP