Aid to Ukraine Is a Bad Deal for All

Last week Congress overwhelmingly passed a bill approving a billion dollars in aid to Ukraine and more sanctions on Russia. The bill will likely receive the president’s signature within days. If you think this is the last time US citizens will have their money sent to Ukraine, you should think again. This is only the … Continue reading “Aid to Ukraine Is a Bad Deal for All”

US ‘Democracy Promotion’ Destroys Democracy Overseas

It was almost ten years ago when, before the House International Relations Committee, I objected to the US Government funding NGOs to meddle in the internal affairs of Ukraine. At the time the “Orange Revolution” had forced a regime change in Ukraine with the help of millions of dollars from Washington. At that time I … Continue reading “US ‘Democracy Promotion’ Destroys Democracy Overseas”

If Spying on Senate Is So Bad, Why Is It OK for Them To Spy On Us?

The reaction of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to last week’s revelations that the CIA secretly searched Senate Intelligence Committee computers reveals much about what the elites in government think about the rest of us. “Spy on thee, but not on me!” The hypocrisy of Sen. Feinstein is astounding. She is the biggest backer of the … Continue reading “If Spying on Senate Is So Bad, Why Is It OK for Them To Spy On Us?”

Hagel’s ‘Defense Cuts’ Are Smoke and Mirrors

Last week Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel proposed an additional 40,000 reduction in active duty US Army personnel, down to 450,000 soldiers. As US troops are being withdrawn from the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it might make sense to reduce not only the active duty military but the entire military budget. However, from the … Continue reading “Hagel’s ‘Defense Cuts’ Are Smoke and Mirrors”

Will No One Challenge Obama’s Executive Orders?

President Obama’s state of the union pledge to “act with or without Congress” marks a milestone in presidential usurpation of Congressional authority. Most modern presidents have used executive orders to change and even create laws without Congressional approval. However President Obama is unusually brazen, in that most Presidents do not brag about their plans to … Continue reading “Will No One Challenge Obama’s Executive Orders?”

The Continuing al-Qaeda Threat

Appearing last week before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testified that he could not say the threat from al-Qaeda is any less today than it was ten years ago. It was a shocking admission. Does he mean that the trillions of dollars spent fighting the war on terrorism have resulted … Continue reading “The Continuing al-Qaeda Threat”

Warfare, Welfare, and Wonder Woman – How Congress Spends Your Money

Supporters of warfare, welfare, and Wonder Woman cheered last week as Congress passed a one trillion dollar “omnibus” appropriation bill. This legislation funds the operations of government for the remainder of the fiscal year. Wonder Woman fans can cheer that buried in the bill was a $10,000 grant for a theater program to explore the … Continue reading “Warfare, Welfare, and Wonder Woman – How Congress Spends Your Money”

Congress Defers to President on NSA Reform

Congress’s decline from the Founders’ vision as “first among equals” in government to an echo chamber of the unitary executive, has been a slow but steady process. In the process we have seen a steady stream of unconstitutional wars and civil liberties abuses at home. Nowhere is this decline more evident than in the stark … Continue reading “Congress Defers to President on NSA Reform”