Strip-searches now allowed for minor traffic offenses. In a devastating 5-4 ruling that not only condones an overreach of state power but legitimizes what is essentially state-sponsored humiliation and visual rape, the U.S. Supreme Court recently declared that any person who is arrested and processed at a jail house, regardless of the severity of his or her ... MORE
A dark cloud is forming over climate warming models. “I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now, From up and down, and still somehow, It’s cloud illusions I recall, I really don’t know clouds at all.” —Singer Joni Mitchell. Science has an air of authority. Many people, including many scientists, have the view that all the important things are ... MORE
Constitutional ignorance of presidential proportions. Last week, President Obama clumsily announced that it would be "unprecedented" for the Supreme Court to strike down "a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress." This week, his words are already having an effect in the courts—but not the effect he hoped for. ... MORE
The rare politician who honors the public's trust. Ron Paul's presidential campaign regularly reports expenses well below the $200 minimum to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and in at least 160 reports so far in the campaign has reported purchases costing a dollar or less. Paul's diligence goes beyond the letter of the law and is ... MORE
The GOP may be shrinking its appeal. One day, in a sardonic jibe at some conservative who was piously claiming the mantle of heaven, I told my wife, "Don't forget, God's a Republican." Without missing a beat, she replied, "But his son's a Democrat." Between the Old Testament Jehovah and the New Testament Jesus, a Christian can find support for almost any ... MORE
What will be America's response to Russia and China? Faced with the prospect of United Nations regulation of the Internet, the United States has yet to appoint a leader for an upcoming battle with other countries over Web management. Less than a year from a historic treaty negotiation that will redefine international agreements on Internet management, the ... MORE
None of this is literally true; only in the important sense. A non-violent sadist loved to mess up people’s heads in nursing homes. He learned of one where he could score double-demolition with one visit. His two favorite targets resided on neighboring floors. First, he visited the retired World War II veterans, tired old men in their late 80s and mid-90s ... MORE
Kicking unemployment up another notch. President George W. Bush signed a bill in May 2007 that would eventually increase the federal minimum wage substantially but gradually, with the last hike in the summer of 2009 after he left office. National unemployment then was only 4.4 percent, and 22 states already had a higher minimum. So, the damage was not felt ... MORE