Dustin Siggins

I am pleased to present the following interview with Bob Turner, who is challenging Rep. Anthony Weiner for New York's Ninth Congressional District. (more)

On Monday evening, a friend told me that Patrick Murray, the Republican opponent of Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), was holding an event on the roof of my apartment complex. Intrigued due to the RealClearPolitics video of Moran saying “the economy has recovered” this past weekend, as well as the ethics issues Moran was cleared of earlier this year, I attended the event, where the campaign allowed me a few minutes to interview Murray. (more)

On Monday, a former professor and I were chatting, and the war in Afghanistan came up. I have been supporting a 100 percent pull-out from that country- as well as Iraq- for some time now, and think that with the General McChrystal issue hitting the fan (for the record, I support the president’s acceptance of the general’s resignation), it's as good a time as any to write about why we need to leave the country. (more)

On May 26, 2010, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) wrote an op-ed in Politico defending Social Security’s solvency, and refuting many concerns cited by critics. Intrigued, I contacted the Congressman’s press secretary by phone the following day to interview the Congressman about his assertions, and to contrast them with what I have heard and read from critics of Social Security. His press secretary and I exchanged several phone calls, and I sent two follow-up e-mails regarding an interview. After receiving no response, I moved forward. (more)

Last week, Real Clear Politics linked to an excellent National Affairs piece about solving the national debt. The Heritage Foundation’s Bill Beach and I are working on a project regarding the national debt, and I felt the article was extraordinarily practical for both America’s public officials and the voting public. Congress has been pushing off hard decisions on everything from Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to effective energy policy for years, and it’s time for the voting public to hold them responsible. (more)

Several weeks ago, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the health care bill had to be passed so “you can know what’s in it.” Conservatives pounced on the opportunity to hammer her, and the clip soon became a laughingstock. (more)

Two weeks ago, Anthem Blue Cross raised its rates in California rather sharply. To my mind, the move gave a fresh boost to Democratic health care reform, certainly not a positive occurrence—even despite Anthem’s market-based, and quite logical, defense. Furthermore, the federal investigation into the rate hikes gave Obama a bit of a public relations boost, as his administration could now point to “evidence” that their reform was necessary. To paraphrase Nina Easton on Monday’s “Special Report,” Obama’s new health care proposal hopes that the American people dislike insurance companies more than they distrust government officials. (more)

Last Friday, Feb. 5,  was not a good day for those who believe in small government, banning earmarks, balanced budgets and the Republican Party. In fact, it was a very bad day for all three. (more)