James Madison

Emerging GOP Theme: Nullification

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.14.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

The code words change over time (from "nullification" to "states' rights" to Pawlenty's "state sovereignty"), but the idea is the same -- we retain the right to ignore any laws we don't feel like following.

Honor Our Hemp-Raising Patriot Heroes

Harvey Wasserman | Posted 08.03.2009 | Green


Harvey Wasserman

For rope, paper, clothing, food, fuel -- hemp has been a critical crop for cash and survival for 6,000 years. Today it contributes billions of dollars to the German, Canadian and Chinese economies.

A 'Must Read' for the Book Czar

William Fisher | Posted 07.19.2009 | Politics


William Fisher

Ambitious assertions of presidential power are the logical outcome of a decades-long trend that started with Reagan and culminated under the "unitary executive" doctrine embraced by the George W. Bush administration.

Those Pesky Ballot Propositions - Is This Any Way to Run a Country?

Tom Alderman | Posted 06.13.2009 | Politics


Tom Alderman

Deciding whether to 'increase the "rainy day" budget stabilization fund' in a state with the seventh largest economy in the world like California, requires a little more, uh, attention.

Michael Phelps In Good Company

Keith Thomson | Posted 03.08.2009 | Green


Keith Thomson

According to a 2002 Time/CNN poll, 47% of Americans have smoked marijuana. Here's a list of famous users and advocates of the plant.

Lynne Cheney To Write James Madison Biography

AP | Posted 01.17.2009 | Media


NEW YORK — After eight years in Washington, Lynne Cheney plans to write about a politician she regards as "steady," "reserved" and given to work...

Putting What Where? Trying to Understand McCain's Slogan

Lincoln Mitchell | Posted 11.12.2008 | Politics


Lincoln Mitchell

If we were to, as a society, put country first, who would define what "country" is or what putting it "first" might mean?

Sarah Palin: A Right-Wing Gidget for Leader of the Free World

Michael Russnow | Posted 10.05.2008 | Politics


Michael Russnow

Watching the Republican convention tonight, I was struck by a number of things, most notably how the prime-time star speakers whipped up the audience ...

Obama/Gore 2008

Norman MacAfee | Posted 09.18.2008 | Politics


Norman MacAfee

Broken record here. The more I think about it, the more Al Gore seems the only really interesting choice for Barack Obama's vice presidential choice. ...