The Crazy Pill isn't Helping the GOP

A great article by Jonathan Bernstein at the Washington Post highlights a conundrum within the GOP.  The Republicans want the Affordable Care Act to fail, and are not willing to do anything to fix any quirks in the law.  The party's absolute opposition to Obamacare, however, could end up hurting traditionally GOP-allied faith groups.  Mr. Bernstein's article explains the conundrum, and what will likely happen if Republicans can't get it together on this issue.

To read Mr. Bernstein's article, click on the link below.

The need to feed The Crazy will cost the GOP

The NSA is watching/listening/downloading/scrolling/friending You

The recent stories from the UK's Guardian newspaper and The Washington Post about the NSA's massive intelligence gathering program known as Prism has sent shock-waves around the world.  Congress is morphing into a collection of very strange bedfellows, with neo-conservatives and staunch progressives joining forces to defend the program.  Privacy advocates and liberal groups are demanding transparency, and the libertarian wing of the GOP is demanding that the NSA cease such programs.

I personally think that the reaction to these revelations is so ridiculously overblown, it deserves ridicule.  OF COURSE the NSA is monitoring us.  OF COURSE our emails, web searches, chats, phone calls and other communications are being looked at.  This isn't news.  This isn't even new.  Every 5 years or so, someone in the intelligence community leaks something to a reporter, it gets published, and the whole country rants and raves about 'Big Brother.'  

So what?

Can Republicans Deliver on Immigration Reform

Jonathan Chait at New York Magazine wrote a fascinating article examining the specific hurdles Republicans face within their own party to passing comprehensive immigration reform.  I have discussed at length the demographic shifts America is experiencing and how these shifts will doom the GOP unless it improves its standing with minorities.  Immigration Reform is a 'must-do' move for Republicans, but large swaths of the GOP base seems to want nothing to do with it.

To read Mr. Chait's piece, click on the link below.

The Gaffe That Threatens Immigration Reform

Obama's Credibility Crisis

NOTE:  I took a break from the blog.  I'm back now.

Ron Fournier at The National Journal wrote a piece about President Obama and the pummeling he has taken in the polls as of late.  Most of it has to do with all of the "scandals" popping up in his administration; from the IRS scandal, the Justice Department's heavy-handed investigations of leaks to journalists, and the more recent NSA scandals surrounding massive data capturing.  But, there may be a bit more to this than just a general lack of approval.  President Obama's credibility is waning, and Americans are starting not to trust him.

To read Mr. Fournier's piece, click on the link below.

Do You Trust This Man?