I-95 runs both ways, Mayor Bloomberg

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Domestic Policy, General on May 18 

During a commencement speech at UNC-Chapel Hill, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg took a shot at North Carolina voters for having passed Amendment One, which amended the state’s constitution to recognize marriage as a male-female relationship. Bloomberg believes North Carolina singlehandedly proved how many a mile the civil rights march has yet to trudge. But it was Bloomberg who displayed a level of ignorance exceeded only by his colossal hypocrisy. Read more

All corporations aren’t created equal

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under General on May 13 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” What about corporations? Apparently, some corporations are more equal than others, or perhaps some are “people” whereas others aren’t. It depends on how an individual corporation’s political twig is bent. Read more

The Zimmerman conspiracy

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under General on Apr 30 

So George Zimmerman is going to trial, where a jury will decide what actually happened between him and Trayvon Martin. Until the trial is finished mulish minds on both sides will cling to their predetermined versions of the truth. Such devout passions deserve their own conspiracy.

Generally, conspiracy theories represent easy explanations for otherwise unexplainable events, or they promote a political agenda. Thus we have “Truthers,” “Birthers,” and tyrannical secret societies propagated by the Illuminati. However, just because most conspiracies are built on fluff rather than substance doesn’t entirely discount the reality of conspiracies. We’re witnessing one in Sanford, Florida. Read more

Minister Farrakhan, the human conch shell

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under General on Apr 24 

Most people believe you can hear the ocean roar if you place a conch shell to your ear. I’ve always thought the sound was more like a steady and annoying wind, the kind that blows endlessly in no particular direction. When you think about it in that light, Louis Farrakhan is quite like a conch shell. If you placed his head to your ear you’d likely hear the same sound. Read more

The real story behind “Hilary Rosen-gate”

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under General on Apr 20 

Hilary Rosen’s feud with Ann Romney is over. Yet we’ve seen once again how quick a proponent of a woman’s right to choose will turn on another woman whose choice differs from liberal orthodoxy. Had Romney chosen to abort her five kids she’d have been Rosen’s heroine rather than her target. The same can be said if Ann had shunned family for a career. Read more

Racism with a side of fries

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under General on Apr 10 

Ever wonder how a post-racial America might look? Well, keep wondering. Not only is racism a perpetual human flaw common to all races, but some people will find it when it needn’t be sought. They’ll look where it’s least expected, where no normal person would notice, where Burger King filmed a commercial with Mary J. Blige. Read more

Supreme Incompetency on the High Court

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Healthcare, SCOTUS on Apr 6 

A Supreme Court justice should present an image of intelligence, competence, and wisdom. Such qualities identify sound judgment and inspire public trust. But two of SCOTUS’s “progressive” purists have sullied that image. In fact, we might wonder if a grasp on reality remains requisite for a seat on the high bench.

During ObamaCare arguments Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked, “What’s wrong with leaving this in the hands of those who should be fixing it?” Read more

Lights, camera, Sharpton!

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Shameless Marketing on Apr 1 

The classic image of the Hollywood movie set features a gruff director — wearing a beret and chomping a cigar — bellowing, “Lights, camera, action!” The actors then perform their roles. In Sanford, Florida the director might shout, “Lights, camera, Sharpton!”

Although Al Sharpton is a devout blowhard, let’s give the devil his due. Whenever there’s race to hustle or cameras to hog, he never misses his cue. In the wake of Trayvon Martin’s untimely demise, Sharpton delivered a timeless line to the teen’s parents: “they will try to make your son a junkie, thief, assaulter, everything else before this is over.” Read more

Obama is no Ron Paul

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Race for White House 2012 on Mar 15 

The Republican presidential nomination process is more than half complete, meaning Ron Paul’s supporters must face a hard fact. Their candidate won’t be the nominee. His delegate count is one-tenth that of Mitt Romney and only Maine has awarded Paul double-digit delegates. Even when Paul wins, he loses.

That’s not to say Rep. Paul in inconsequential; he’s not. But he has as much chance of winning the Republican nomination as do the Pittsburgh Pirates of winning the 2012 World Series. So, where will Paul’s supporters turn in the general election? Believe it or not, the Obama campaign believes it can court alienated Paulites, citing common ground on budget issues and foreign policy. Read more

Litigation is risky for Sandra Fluke

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Scandals on Mar 10 

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is one versatile individual. He proved his mastery of psychoanalysis when he diagnosed TEA Partiers as products of dysfunctional families. He’s now issuing free legal advice to Sandra Fluke, urging her to sue Rush Limbaugh for “slander, libel, and whatever else might be involved.”

A dangerous precedent is established when politicians openly promote lawsuits between citizens. Such use of governmental influence belies a nation where everyone is equal before the law and drives an unnecessary wedge between the populace. Legally, Hoyer isn’t prohibited from supporting Fluke. But ethically he should refrain from encouraging civil litigation. He violated the public’s trust, compromised a potential lawsuit’s integrity, and possibly led Sandra Fluke astray. Read more

End of the line for “Maha Rushie”?

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Scandals on Mar 7 

Public figures are bound to offend from time to time. Occasionally they’ll stick their foot so far in their mouth they’ll develop athlete’s tongue. Enter Rush Limbaugh, who might need to brush his teeth with fast-acting Tinactin. If you missed it, Rush called Georgetown University student Sandra Fluke some unflattering names after she practically begged congressional Democrats to force Georgetown to meet her contraceptive demands.

The villain is, predictably, anyone who criticizes Sandra Fluke. But keep in mind that Fluke is no innocent bystander; she’s a feminine activist. She knew full well that Georgetown didn’t include contraceptives in student insurance plans before she enrolled. Sandra’s an operative who used her private life to affect public policy, thus inviting criticism. Frankly, Ms. Fluke is symptomatic of the entitlement attitude that has infected our nation. She demands a benefit at someone else’s expense and is willing to grovel at government’s feet to get it. A freedom fighter she’s not. Read more

Time to bury the birther theories

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Obama News on Mar 4 

Once a conspiracy theory takes root nothing deters its adherents. Evidence contrary to the speculation is summarily dismissed as another brick in the conspirer’s wall of secrecy. Thus, the plot thickens.

Now that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has released details questioning the birth certificate Obama produced last year, birthers could become revitalized. While Arpaio’s findings aren’t unique; they are fuel for smoldering embers. When Obama released his birth record, after excessive and suspicious stonewalling, the birther’s questioned its authenticity. You knew it was coming. Computer images are easily doctored, thus birthers were wise to the cover-up, as they are now. Read more

So now we’re banning toy guns

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under General on Feb 26 

Gun control activists built their anti-liberty agenda around a simple theme: Guns kill. Never mind that firearms — like any weapon or tool — can accomplish neither good nor evil without an operator. Firearms are so evil that children shouldn’t even play with toy replicas. But banning toy guns is ridiculous, isn’t it? Not so fast. Read more

Has everyone gone “Lin-sane?”

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under General on Feb 23 

How can a single innocuous phrase land one ESPN employee a 30-day suspension, cause another employee’s termination, and prompt a national rant about racism? In a bygone day, when common sense trumped banal emotionalism, we’d have laughed at the possibility. But it’s today’s reality and we’re all worse for our so-called enlightenment. 

ESPN’s broadcast and electronic media employed the phrase “Chink in the armor” in reference to New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin’s first subpar performance. Lin is of Asian heritage. The offending parties became instant racists, and the comments pronouncing their guilt are as innumerable as they are mindless. My question is, quite honestly, has everyone lost their minds? Read more

King Obama’s contraception deception

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Obama News on Feb 16 

Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law its critics warned of undesirable consequences hidden within the monstrous and confusing bill. Naysayers then, they’ve become prophets. ObamaCare forces every health plan provider to include free coverage for contraceptive and abortive services.

But there’s a catch. Religious organizations also provide healthcare coverage to their employees. Since ObamaCare offers no religious exemption, church affiliates are required to provide services that conflict with ecclesiastical doctrines. The outcry was immediate, as organizations and charities across the religious spectrum vowed resistance on the grounds that a contraception mandate violates First Amendment freedoms. Therefore, King Obama is compelled to reform his decree, at least in part. He’ll order the insurers behind the religious entities to provide free contraception instead. Read more

The Santorum Conundrum

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Race for White House 2012 on Feb 12 

Mitt Romney has withstood every challenge to date, remaining the only constant in the Republican nomination race. There are legitimate reasons for his consistency. Romney is photogenic, has proven business skills, can manage a budget, and heads a campaign flush with cash. The sum total of these assets is the demise of everyone, thus far, who has challenged him.

However, conservatives haven’t warmed to Romney, as last week’s caucuses confirm. So Rick Santorum becomes the latest, and perhaps strongest, “conservative alternative” the “anyone but Romney” camp has long sought. Read more

One fine day on the tarmac

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Obama News on Feb 4 

Air Force One sparkled beneath the brilliant Arizona sun as President Obama and Governor Jan Brewer met one fine day on the tarmac. Then, for no reason, Brewer spat on Obama’s foot. Oh, she didn’t? Then she asked him for a shoeshine. No? Did her dog mark Air Force One’s tires? Wrong again? So what was the big deal? 

While both parties appeared terse during their recent meeting, they didn’t seem on the verge of blows. Obama was apparently displeased with how Brewer’s new book portrayed him while Brewer didn’t appreciate Obama’s condescending attitude. Fine, there was a mild rift. The situation ended with Brewer inviting Obama to a formal meeting, which a White House spokesman indicated was accepted, and Obama referring to the incident as “overblown” and “not a big deal at all.” 
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There’s no off-season for the professionally offended

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under General, Humor on Jan 28 

A professional athlete, no matter the sport, enjoys a certain time of year called the off-season. Off-seasons allow athletes to clear their minds and heal their bodies. As an added benefit, off-seasons prevent fans from becoming bored with the sport. Professional offense-takers should follow that example. Maybe their minds wouldn’t be so cloudy and the rest of us wouldn’t grow so sick of them.

Feminists head the herd when it comes to taking offense. They can find affront at the drop of a hat. Feminists have taken umbrage at everything from Victoria’s Secret to My Little Pony. Anything that fails to promote feminism’s “strong” woman — the bra-burning, gruff, nagging, sea hag — renders women doting airheads suitable for serving the patriarchal society.
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How does Romney remain the frontrunner?

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under Race for White House 2012 on Jan 19 

How does Mitt Romney remain atop the Republican field? He’s unpopular with fiscal conservatives. Despite his business-friendly reputation, conservatives perceive Romney as a statist wolf in free-market clothing; a classic northeastern moderate if not an outright liberal. He fares even worse with social conservatives. Even with his reformed positions on abortion and marriage, his checkered history on both issues breeds distrust among Republicans. 

Since key elements of the GOP base are aligned against Romney there is opportunity for a reliable conservative with stamina for the long haul. Thus far no one has fit the bill. Read more

Santa Claus ain’t coming to town

By Anthony W. Hager

Filed Under General, Humor on Dec 23 

No need to watch out.

You might as well cry.

Go on and pout, I’m telling you why.

Santa Claus ain’t coming to town.

There won’t be any reindeer, or sleigh for you to see.

We’ve banned them all so we can prove our great sensitivity.

It’s no joke! The North Pole’s favorite son was banned from his annual appearance at the Hollings Cancer Center in South Carolina. Said spokeswoman Vicki Agnew: “Because of our state affiliation, we decided not to have a Santa presence this year.” The Center, Agnew continued, wanted to be “more secular and respectful to all beliefs. People who are Muslim or Jewish or have no religious beliefs come here for treatment.” Read more