In the early history of the United States, the names of two "might-have-beens" stand out. Each fought bravely in the American Revolution, though each was hamstrung by vanity, easily hurt feelings and a deep-seated rage against those men they considered ungrateful for services rendered.
The Founding Fathers would be pleased. President Obama, endorsing same-sex marriage, celebrates his becoming fully evolved by citing the golden rule, Christ's admonition to "you know, treat others the way you want to be treated." (Jesus said it better.) Mitt Romney tells an audience of 35,000 at Liberty University's commencement that central to America's global leadership is "our Judeo-Christian tradition."
Liberals are invoking the framers of the Constitution in their latest attempt to employ judges to subvert the institutions of government. At issue is the Senate's cloture rule, the requirement for three-fifths of voting members to vote to end debate and vote on a bill. Supporters of the Dream Act, which passed the House but couldn't get to cloture in the Senate, are suing to have the practice overturned as an unconstitutional imposition on majority rule.
What can we learn from allegations against a half-dozen supervisors in the General Services Administration (GSA) about wasting - and perhaps stealing - taxpayer dollars on foolishness in Las Vegas and against a dozen Secret Service agents about dangerously procuring prostitutes in Cartagena, Colombia, while there to prepare for a visit by the president?
For the first time, President Obama's Justice Department has attempted to explain the administration's policy on targeted killings of U.S. citizens. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s speech earlier this month came five months after an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki, was killed in Yemen by a predator drone without any judicial review. The president's decision to target and kill an American citizen, far from any battlefield, presents one of the gravest constitutional issues we have faced in the war on terror. The Justice Department's defense of unchecked power to kill U.S. citizens raises significant constitutional concerns.
Alexander Hamilton once quipped, "Nobody expects to trust his body overmuch after the age of 50." One could make a similar observation about the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which just entered its fifth decade of existence. In the past few days, WWF has become embroiled in one of the largest scandals to hit the organization since its inception, raising serious questions regarding its accountability, integrity and, most significant, trustworthiness.
In today's Washington, transportation funding has become just another political football. It's been 28 months since the last law expired, and Congress, driven by bitter partisan bickering, has failed to agree to a new one.
Aaron Burr ranks among the most reviled characters in American history - an astounding fate for a Founding Father who came within a hair's breadth o f the presidency in 1800. Although he was never convicted in court, the term "traitor" is indelibly linked to his name.
Is America in its twilight years? Patrick J. Buchanan argues it is. Americans, especially conservatives, should heed his warnings. The very future of our republic is at stake. Mr. Buchanan has written the political book of the year - and maybe of our time.
