Here's my analysis of the 11th Republican Primary Debate in Detroit, as well as some general observations and questions for each candidate. First, Trump. It should be clear by now that Donald Trump lacks the seriousness, maturity, temperament, policy knowledge, etc. to be President of the United States. Last night, he brought the Republican primary race to … Continue reading Questions for Each Candidate after the 11th GOP Debate
In the wake of their resounding victories in New Hampshire, the excitement emanating from the Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump campaigns is palpable. Both (old, white) men are populist leaders. Both have built their campaigns on the promise of what they can do for the people, though in somewhat different ways – Sanders by getting … Continue reading Are We Serious?
The big story being reported by the media this morning is that Marco Rubio had an awful debate. Marco Rubio did not have a bad debate. He didn't say anything offensive, there were no "gaffes," and he never even appeared flustered. He had a bad ten minutes of what was otherwise a solid performance. First … Continue reading Rubio’s Night Not as Bad as Reported
America has made tremendous progress on the issue of race over the last fifty years. In 1960, a black man could be lynched for the "crime" of flirting with a white woman, very few African-Americans could exercise the right to vote, almost none held elected office, and the most profitable careers were off-limits. I can … Continue reading Why Acknowledging “White Privilege” Won’t Help
The challenges confronting America and the West are manifold and well-documented, but the biggest problem we face today is a crisis of confidence. Any problem is surmountable if you have the courage to look at it with clear eyes and act on principle. This is how we built the Hoover Dam, defeated the Nazis, secured civil rights for all … Continue reading Dear Western Civilization, Please Stop Hating Yourself
The recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino have functioned as a wake-up call to the dangers of radical Islamic terrorism. Yet more surprising than the attacks themselves (in many ways, not shocking at all) was the backlash on social media to the idea that we should pray for the victims. Expressing thoughts and prayers in times of … Continue reading To Pray, or to Politicize?
I wrote my first analysis of the 2016 Republican Primary race back in early August, when most Americans were still getting to know the candidates in the respective fields. In the roughly ten weeks since then, we’ve seen three debates: two Republican and one Democrat. Two Republican candidates have dropped out of the race, including … Continue reading Time For Republicans to Rally Around an Experienced Candidate
In 2012, a Gallup International poll found that 12% of global respondents identify as “convinced atheists.” In China, the figure is 47%, followed by Japan at 31% and France at 29%. In the United States, self-identified atheists have risen from 1% in 2005 to 5% in 2012. While this is still a very small figure, … Continue reading A Question for Atheists
Over the past few days, it has been amazing to watch as America discovers a newfound passion for the law. A liberal order has been defied, and suddenly the letter of the law must be respected. Personal opinions and biases must be set aside. Any civil disobedience or protest is now seen as a threat to the very fabric … Continue reading Are We a Nation of Laws?
Like everyone else, I was horrified by the recent murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward. I didn’t know Adam personally, but many of my friends did. Though separated by a few years in school, we sat in the same classes—learning from the same teachers and cheering on the same Spartan football team. My pain is … Continue reading The Common Cause Of Nearly Every Mass Shooting
The Front Porch Philosopher 