Arnold Ahlert

ObamaCare’s Failure to Launch

Despite repeated warnings, highlighted by Democrat Sen. Max Baucus's (D-MT) prediction last April of "a huge train wreck coming down" if ObamaCare wasn't implemented correctly, that train wreck is exactly what has come to pass. Furthermore, there are already signs that the unpopular law is becoming more unpopular in the process.

The Real Debt Ceiling

The rollout of ObamaCare and the subsequent government shutdown have engaged the attention of millions of Americans. Unfortunately, both issues are inconsequential compared to what will likely be another battle over raising the debt ceiling. Even more unfortunately, most Americans have little grasp of the economic issues that have brought us to the precipice for the second time in two years.

The DNC Goes Broke

While Americans are focused on a government shutdown precipitated in large part by America's debt crisis, the fundraising arm of the party that advocates spending trillions of dollars in borrowed money has a debt crisis of its own. As a result of spending during the 2012 election campaign, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is nearly broke, even as it struggles to pay its own vendors.

Thinking Outside the Two Party Box

In a previous column, I advocated the establishment of a viable third party for the millions of Americans who feel disenfranchised by Democrats and their get-along-to-go-along Republican counterparts. The predictable reaction? A third party will siphon votes from the Republicans and make Democrats unassailable. Historically speaking, that assessment is accurate. Yet the establishment Republicans' reaction to Ted Cruz's 21-hour marathon versus the reaction of the American public, leads me to the conclusion that we may be in the midst of an historically anomalous moment.

Republicans: Take ObamaCare to Court

Conservatives in Congress, and their fellow travelers among the chattering classes, are working overtime devising clever strategies to defund ObamaCare. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say none of them will likely amount to a hill of beans.

Canada Ditches Obama’s Favorite Terror-Funding Charity

Last Friday, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that it has revoked the charitable status of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Development Foundation, after an audit of its books produced evidence linking it to Pakistani terrorist groups. "The Government of Canada has made it clear that it will not tolerate the abuse of the registration system for charities to provide any means of support to terrorism," said a CRA press release.

Seizing Homes to Solve the Mortgage Meltdown?

Once again, California is burnishing its reputation as the nation's premiere location for oppressive government. In a 4-3 vote on September 11, the Richmond City Council approved a measure whereby the city would use the government power of eminent domain to seize hundreds of "underwater" mortgages. After seizing the mortgages, the city would offer the banks what it considers a fair market value for them. In turn, homeowners would be granted a new loan with lower monthly payments aimed at keeping those owners in their houses. Lenders have filed lawsuits to keep the plan from proceeding.

Challenge ‘Common Core’ at Your Own Peril

Last Thursday in Towson, Maryland, concerned parent Robert Small was physically removed from a public forum for daring to interrupt Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance during the so-called "question-and-answer" portion of a school board meeting. Dance was only answering questions from parents previously submitted in writing. When Small stood up to tell the audience that he believed the introduction of the new Common Core curriculum would compromise education standards, he was approached by an off-duty police officer working as a security guard and forcibly removed from the auditorium. He was subsequently handcuffed, and charged with second-degree assault of a police officer. Though the charges have reportedly been dropped, the incident remains a shocking reminder of the oppressive nature of Common Core and the liberal educational establishment charged with enforcing it.

The War on Football

As the latest football season unfolds, a timely book by Daniel J. Flynn takes on the do-gooders who would relegate the sport to the ash heap of history. “The War on Football: Saving America’s Game,” explores the history of the sport and debunks many of the myths surrounding its iconic characters. More importantly, Flynn tackles the oft-repeated misinformation about concussions and other health-related issues critics exploit in their attempts to convince Americans the game is far too violent. He also illuminates why the game remains a critical rite of passage in a nation seemingly bent on emasculating young men.

Obama’s Move to Arm Al Qaeda in Syria

On Monday, twelve years and five days after al Qaeda precipitated the worst domestic attack in modern history, President Obama waived two sections of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), allowing him to provide military assistance to "vetted" rebel grips in Syria.

Yellen Unlikely to Stop Fed’s Money-Printing Addiction

Now that former Clinton Treasury Secretary Treasury and former Harvard University president Larry Summers has withdrawn his name from consideration as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, Fed Vice Chairman Janet L. Yellen has seemingly become the leading candidate for the job. She would replace Ben Bernanke whose term expires in January. If appointed, Yellen would be the first woman to chair the Fed.

DC’s Fight Over ObamaCare Exemption Gets Dirty

Last Wednesday, while Americans remained distracted by Syria, Senator David Vitter (R-LA) began an effort to bring Washington, D.C.'s aptly described ruling class down to the same level as the people they represent. In return for allowing his fellow senators to continue proposing amendments to an energy efficiency bill on which they have begun deliberations, Vitter is demanding a floor vote on his amendment to end an exemption to ObamaCare for Congress and their staff members.

America’s Syrian Jihad

The American policy with regard to Syria remains in utter disarray. Despite public declarations by Secretary of State John Kerry and President Obama that any punitive strike against Syria would not be about regime change, the CIA and the State Department have begun delivering weapons and other gear to the Syrian rebels in the hopes that their effectiveness will be enhanced. What will also be enhanced is the horrific brutality of these "rebels," as they continue to commit one heinous jihadist atrocity after another.

‘Plan B’ for Syria?

The Syrian crisis has taken another curious turn. Yesterday, before President Obama made his case to the public for some sort of military strike against the regime of Bashar Assad, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that his nation would push the Syrian government to put its chemical weapons cache under international control.

The Economic Stagnation Named ‘Recovery’

While most of America remained focused on the Obama administration's machinations regarding Syria, another set of underwhelming economic statistics were released Friday. Those stats reinforced the ongoing reality that America remains mired in the worst recovery since the Great Depression.

Sacrificing Military Women on the Altar of ‘Diversity’

On June 5, 2013, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) approved legislation to address sexual harassment in the military. Yet what HASC failed to address is the far more important and potentially devastating issue of the Obama administration's determination to put women in direct ground combat. When the Center for Military Readiness (CMR) asked senior Republican staffers why the organization's analysis, "Sound Policy for Women in Military," was ignored, the center was told leaders feared being labeled "anti-woman." In short, little political will exists to oppose Obama's new policies, which will endanger women and military integrity--all for the sake of "diversity."

Will Congress Authorize?

Will Congress authorize a military strike against Syria? The political maneuvering engendered by President Obama's newfound interest in having the legislative branch be part of the equation is turning into quite the campaign. The latest developments present anything but a clear cut picture of the expected outcome.

John Kerry: Face of Defeat

A picture of John Kerry has recently resurfaced that exemplifies the quality of his judgment and the reality of his long relationship with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. The same man Kerry compares to Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein today was Kerry's dining partner in 2009. The picture was taken at a time when Kerry and a number of other Democrats, eager to spurn the Bush administration post-Iraq, were pushing the notion that Assad could be a potential partner in bringing peace to the Middle East. If such a colossal mistake represented an anomaly in Kerry's career, it might be understandable. It does not, however. Kerry in fact has a long track record of supporting totalitarians and killers that makes him an embarrassment on the world stage.

A Vanity War

In Hollywood there is something known as a "vanity film." Vanity films are oh-so-important projects done by oh-so-serious actors and directors with a burning urge to do something "deeply moving" and "important," something that allows them to stretch their talents to the very limits of the creative envelope.

The FBI and the Muslim Brotherhood

A recent report in Mother Jones magazine has given the lie to FBI Director Robert Mueller's defense of his agency's failure to take any action against Nidal Hasan, despite intercepting a series of emails between the mass murderer and terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki, beginning as early as 2008.