Mr. Putin Goes to Havana

This past week, Russian president Vladimir Putin visited communist Cuba on a diplomatic visit to that tropical paradise, that CNN commentators love to gush about, Cuba. [Now if only CNN would only move there permanently!]Many have questioned the purpose of the trip,...

Back to the Land of the Bromide

While the election crisis was still upon us, I hated it as much as anyone else. As a columnist, I probably hated it more. How do you write about politics when the news reverses direction every two hours? But now that it’s all over, I’m getting downright...

Hoisted by Their Own Petard

Given the inevitable liberal attack on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that settles the election contest, it is important to be clear about what the Supreme Court did and who is ultimately responsible for its ruling. There are many pernicious lines of attack,...

Time for Common Sense Again

Now that the election is over, can we talk sense? “Campaign finance reform” is a great political issue for an election year, but it makes no sense otherwise. What is a campaign supposed to do — and how will campaign finance reform affect how well it...

Law and Order Tyranny

If you live in Albuquerque, N.M., and you have teen-agers who might be inclined to raid your wine, beer or whiskey cupboard while you are away, rent your housing, don’t buy. The city council has recently passed a law [September 2000] that lets the city seize...

Brace Yourselves for Floridation

One of my favorite bands, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, recently penned an ode to “Californication.” The term refers to the spread of the Golden State’s worst attributes: smog, strip malls, drive-bys, and celebrity worship. “It’s understood...