Looking to the Founders: Protest and Violence Won't Stop Free Press

"That if all Printers were determin'd not to print any thing till they were sure it would offend no body, there would be very little printed." -- Benjamin Franklin, "Apology for Printers"

In light of current events in Paris, I finally turn my attention to Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, and what he could teach us about a free press.

Let’s Not Give Terrorists the Holy War They Want

This week’s attack on the Paris newspaper Charlie Hebdo by violent Islamicists was a great tragedy and an unspeakable outrage. It was a vile, evil action by people who are not fit to live in human society. We must always condemn, in every way possible, the slaughter of human beings. Full stop.

Can Congress Grant Us A ‘Pardon’ from the State of the Union?

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. -- As those of you who are familiar with my work already know, I examine our government from an unusual perspective; one that assumes that it must follow the Constitution. Accordingly, I respect proposed solutions that adhere to that premise while forcing us into the uncomfortable realm of hosting “a civil assessment” of their merit. In that regard, I offer the suggestion of Scot Faulkner to bypass this year’s State of the Union Address.

Only 'We The People' Can Bring Change to American Politics

Is it not frustrating, depressing, and sometimes infuriating to observe the typical "career politician" hard at work? Such elegant and manipulative ways with lingual sophistry coupled with elitist and aristocratic mannerisms?

This is not to say there are no just politicians with character and integrity who are selfless and truly believe in the greater good.

As Party Identification Plummets, Independent Voters Hit Record High

The two major political parties received another blow on Wednesday, as a recent Gallup poll revealed that a record-high number of Americans (43%) now self-identify as independent.

This represents a drastic increase from 2008, when 35 percent of Americans identified as independent, suggesting that the growth is not only rapid, but will continue.  

Jon Stewart Comparing Congress to Herpes is Hilariously Accurate

Jon Stewart's satirical examination of Congress is often full of accurate criticisms about how the legislative branch has conducted its business over the years. No examination may highlight the problems with our electoral system more than a 14 percent approval rating that somehow runs parallel with a 95 percent incumbency rate.

"[F]ourteen percent disapproval to 95 percent incumbency is the same disapproval to recurrence ratio currently enjoyed by the Herpes virus," Stewart says.

How Republicans and Democrats Are Dissing Hispanic Voters

Hispanic voters have been called the “sleeping giant.” It seems like the giant is waking up, but not necessarily in bed with either the Republican or Democratic Party. The feeling of either party not taking them seriously might be the reason why more Hispanics (or Latinos) are becoming independents (along with a variety of other reasons), following the trend of many other demographics.

The Democratic Party has, for the most part, been the predominant party of choice for Hispanics.

Rep. Amash: It's Time For New Leadership in the GOP

On Tuesday, U.S. House Speaker

John Boehner (R-Ohio) will face a challenge from a small handful of Republican lawmakers who are dissatisfied with his leadership as speaker, demanding that a more principled conservative lead the GOP in the House. U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) is one of a few Republican lawmakers who believe they would make a better speaker than Boehner.