Frank Salvato

Government of the People or By the Faction?

Now comes news that George McGovern has called for Hillary Clinton to withdraw from the Democrat’s primary race. Pardon me for my raised eyebrow but how much of a fool would someone have to be to take campaign advice from the man who got slaughtered by Richard Nixon? Losing an election by a landslide really shouldn’t qualify someone to dispense political advice unless it’s how to deliver a concession speech without looking bitter.

Ceasefires in Islam: Not Always What They Seem to Be

It seems as though every other day we hear there is another “ceasefire” in the Middle East. This is chiefly because there is so much violent Islamofascist aggression throughout the Middle East but it is also because of something more. Just as there is no exact translation between the Arabic and English languages, we in the West would be wise to realize that this “inexactness” exists as a constant in the relationship between the cultures of Islam and Western Civilization. This convolution of conceptual understanding is aptly illustrated where the subject of military ceasefires is concerned.

Barack Obama: It’s More About His Choices

Many of the more conservative talking heads – and even some on the Left side of the aisle who support Hillary Clinton – are espousing their concern about Barack Obama’s “associations.” They point to Obama’s spiritual advisor, Jeremiah Write, and note his “friendly” relationship with unrepentant domestic terrorists William Ayers and his partner Bernadine Dorhn and wax alarmingly about his willingness to associate with such people. Certainly, Wright, Ayers and Dorhn are interesting if not contemptible people but a person’s associations concern me less than a person’s choice to defend those associations.

Change Doesn’t Come by Electing a President

We have heard during this presidential election cycle – ad naseum – how our country is in dire need of “change.” We are promised by each of the candidates that they are the ones – the only ones – who can bring about this much needed change. Of course, this is all disingenuous politicking. The fact of the matter is this: the office of the presidency is quite limited in its power to affect any change at all. The real entity capable of affecting immediate and dramatic change in government, the governmental branch with the real power, is the Legislative Branch.

Swinging Like Monkeys from the Branches of the Liberty Tree

Recently, in a Chicago suburb, a village trustee was issued a citation for disorderly conduct when she informed two less than discerning parents that the trees of the village were to be respected as elements of nature, not utilized like playground equipment. The citation was issued after the parents mistook verbiage used as that of being racist. It should be disturbing to all of us that a citation was issued because of words used in a non-aggressive fashion. Even more disturbing is that our society is willing to disregard free speech rights in pursuit of political correctness.

Women in Islam: Suffering the Barbary of an Ideology

News spread quickly that anti-Islamofascism activist Dr. Wafa Sultan has gone into hiding, along with her family. They are in hiding because of her participation in a recent debate on Al-Jazeera in which she challenged Egyptian Islamist Talat Rheim over Dutch cartoons of Mohammed and the ideology of Islam in general. For her truthful criticisms of Islam Dr. Sultan earned a fatwa, a “religiously” decried death sentence, from an Islamic scholar. That she criticizes Islam is enough justification in the eyes of the radical Islamist to kill her. That she is a woman infuses into the fatwa an unbridled viciousness and a need for expediency.

The Insolent Arrogance of the Progressive-Left

A recent event in Chicago illustrates the arrogance and narcissism of the Progressive-Left – and in particular the anti-war Progressive-Left. During Easter services at Holy Name Cathedral Catholic Church in Chicago, six anti-war protesters staged a political demonstration disrupting religious services. They shouted generic anti-war slogans and squirted fake blood on themselves and the parishioners in attendance. Their goal was to attract attention to themselves and – therefore – their cause. It worked.

The Damaging Political Legacy of Addressing the Race Issue

Barack Obama recently issued another of his linguistic masterpieces in addressing the issues of racism, hate-speech and his spiritual mentor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. His speech was pretty. It was eloquent. It was impassioned. It attempted to approach the true issue in danger of being overshadowed by a sensationalistic mainstream news media; racism in the total of American society, including the Black community. It even included a condemnation of specific statements by Wright, a man Obama says, “...has been like family to me.” But Obama’s speech fell short in answering some important ideological questions about his belief system and in doing so exposed the Achilles heel of the Progressive-Left where race is concerned: The Progressive-Left, in its quest for a multicultural utopia, simply can’t have racial harmony.

Change Requires Going Beyond the Name on the Ballot

There has been a tremendous amount of talk about “change” this presidential election cycle. Many have pointed out that change for the sake of change is seldom – if ever – a good thing. Unless explicit details of what is to be changed, why it needs changing and just how it is to be changed for the better are given in no uncertain terms, there exists too much chance for political and ideological malfeasance. To that extent, “change” is simply a Pavlovian buzz-word that sets the politically naïve to salivating.

The Race Card May Have Been Dealt, But Who’s Playing It?

Just before the South Carolina Democrat primary there was a great deal of talk about the Clinton campaign having played the “race card.” Not too many people flinched at the thought and rightfully so; the Clinton’s have a vicious and relentless political attack machine. But looking at the voter demographics from the states that compiled data based on “race,” it would seem that even though the Clinton’s may have dealt the “race card,” it is the black community that is playing it...all across the country.

We Need to Be Careful for What We Wish

As the primary cycle rolls on, those who understand the danger of a Hillary Clinton administration are gleefully watching her tumble in the polls. Barack Obama’s campaign “performances” have played to the basest emotions of America’s left-leaning community and, ironically, doing so with a recycled version of Bill Clinton’s 1992 messages of “change” and “hope.” But as much as Ms. Clinton’s demise may fill Conservative hearts with a sense of satisfaction we really should be careful for what we wish.

Stepping Back from the Conservative Abyss

"If you are looking at substance rather than if there is an 'R' or a 'D' after his name, manifestly, if he's our candidate, then Hillary is going to be our girl, because she's more conservative than he is..." – Ann Coulter on Hannity & Colmes

Duty. Honor. Country. Civic Responsibility

A good friend of mine, a retired firefighter and Korean War Era Marine – a fine and good American if there ever was one, recently sent me an email on the realization that John McCain was the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.

Examining Republican Self-Destruction and the Term ‘RINO’

I have been avoiding the discussion of who I am supporting for the Republican presidential nomination in deference to urging others to thoroughly examine the platforms, agendas and records of all those in contention.

A Focus on Ignorance in Nevada

During the recent primary debate between Democrat presidential hopefuls in Nevada, one of the more credible pollsters, Frank Luntz, convened a focus group of undecided Democrats. As the debate progressed each focus group member’s approval or disapproval – their “feelings” – on each of the candidate’s statements was noted. What Mr. Luntz’s focus group actually recorded was proof positive of the Left’s constitutional illiteracy.

Can an American President Be a Muslim Apostate?

As the primary season finally gets started the issue of Barack Obama’s religion takes the stage once again. While there are some aspects of his religious affiliations that cause legitimate concern, the contention that he is a danger because he practiced Islam as a child, under the guidance of his father and then his step-father, is being overblown for what it is not and ignored for what it is.

Investigation Requested Over Firing of Pentagon Analyst

A request has been made of the Senate and House Armed Services and Intelligence Committees to investigate the decision not to renew the contract of Stephen Coughlin, a Pentagon specialist on Islamic law and Islamist extremism, who was to common knowledge, the only Islamic Law scholar on the military Joint Staff.

Democracy Without Liberty Is Just Authority

Benazir Bhutto’s assassination is probably one of the most serious events that has happened since the attacks of September 11, 2001. She represented a move toward a Pakistan governed by political process and away from government by military rule. Truth be told, the only true stabilizing force in Pakistan is its military.

Assassinating the Democratic Process

The assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto presents a cadre of possibilities for the future of Pakistan, the South Asian and Middle Eastern regions and the world.

A Standing Army for the United Nations

There are many disturbing issues to contemplate in the world. From the dangers of aggressive Islamofascism to the pomposity and arrogance of the American elected class (and those vying to be included) the world stands witness to myriad threats and power grabs. But two power grabs opens the door for the United Nations to both amass sovereign rights and to fund and assemble a military force under its own banner.