Benjamin Domenech

“Cronyism.” That word has been thrown around a great deal in the Republican primary battle. It’s bad when it’s done to lure companies to locate in a particular state, or to reward a political ally, but it’s worse when it’s used to increase government intrusion into people’s lives. That’s what happened when former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney pressed to get support for his health care reform, the widely acknowledged model for Obamacare. (more)

What a great time to be a bureaucrat. Under President Obama’s leadership, they’re everywhere these days—in charge of things and with freedom of access to people’s personal information they never dreamed of having. Health care treatment records? Check. Insurance records? Of course. ATM records for average citizens, without needing a pesky subpoena? You got it. (more)

In the aftermath of World War II, the U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee called hearings in an attempt to publicly shame and excoriate industrial titan Howard Hughes. Hughes was accused of wasting taxpayer money on his F-11 and HK-1 projects. The hearings backfired as the stubborn Hughes accused the Senators of corruption and blackmail and of being beholden to his competitors, and he detailed the millions of his own dollars he spent on these projects.
The committee, embarrassed by the unexpectedly effective defiance of the infamous recluse, disbanded without filing a report. (more)

As many of the smarter pro-life leaders anticipated over the past week, Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak’s winding road toward supporting the Senate version of President Obama’s national health care reform came to an end as an “aye” today thanks to an Executive Order from the White House. (more)

President Barack Obama’s final speech before this weekend’s anticipated vote on health care legislation had the same soaring rhetoric he’s been known for, those turns of phrase that sound awfully pretty unless you think about them too hard. (more)

President Barack Obama’s latest health care proposal, unveiled in advance of today’s Republican-berating session at Blair House, marks a last-ditch attempt to seize control of the national narrative on reform. It also exemplifies the total dominance of campaign-style, partisan spin in this White House, where promises are cheap and easily ignored. (more)

Right now White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel needs to do the first worthwhile thing since he came to Washington: He should lean over and whisper in President Barack Obama’s ear to remind him that he really is president of the United States—he’s not just playing that role on TV. (more)