Democrats think Trump is a worse enemy than Iran

By Chris Powell Members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation are probably right that President Trump should have sought the approval of Congress before launching last weekend’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear bomb-making infrastructure. That is the clear implication of the Constitution’s placing with Congress the power to declare war, and it is the command of the federalContinue reading “Democrats think Trump is a worse enemy than Iran”

Democrats aren’t against kings, they just want a new one

By Chris Powell Last weekend’s “No Kings” rallies in Connecticut and around the country, protesting what were said to be President Trump’s excesses, were as hyperbolic as the president himself, and, insofar as most of the protesters were Democrats and liberals, largely hypocritical. Illegal immigration’s backers in Connecticut never get critical questions Murphy sees Democrats’Continue reading “Democrats aren’t against kings, they just want a new one”

Murphy sees Democrats’ problem but not that he’s part of it

By Chris Powell Speaking the other day to a friendly liberal audience in Washington at the Center for American Progress, Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy put aside his usual bombast about President Trump and offered some candor. Connecticut’s best schools aren’t those getting credit Much poverty in Connecticut arises from bad state policy Clash onContinue reading “Murphy sees Democrats’ problem but not that he’s part of it”

Rowland’s pardon means little; and Looney cites bad parenting

By Chris Powell As a practical matter President Trump’s pardon of Connecticut’s disgraced former governor, John G. Rowland, means little beyond restoring his right to possess firearms.  Connecticut devalues education while throwing more money at it Distinguish among immigrants; and Pratt’s gradual departure CT Public’s wild salaries; and make schools answer Rowland already completed hisContinue reading “Rowland’s pardon means little; and Looney cites bad parenting”

‘Rule of law’ advocates have many blind spots

By Chris Powell Hooray for the 500 lawyers who this month formed the Connecticut Rule of Law Committee, reprimanded President Trump, without quite naming him, for his recklessness about due process and his bullying of the judiciary, and righteously recommitted themselves to the rule of law. Trump often deserves scolding, even if it has yet to doContinue reading “‘Rule of law’ advocates have many blind spots”

Murphy accuses Trump of what Democrats did

By Chris Powell A principle of propaganda is to accuse your adversaries of doing what you are doing or have done yourself. Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy has taken this to heart. Public schooling’s danger exceeds home schooling’s Cheng scandal suggests that higher education needs scrutiny Immigration law enforcement shocks Connecticut’s nullifiers In a recentContinue reading “Murphy accuses Trump of what Democrats did”

Patronage for higher education is one-sided campaign financing

By Chris Powell Even people skeptical of the bloat of the federal government may not have fully appreciated its discretionary political patronage until, upon his return to the presidency in January, Donald Trump began to reduce it. Who outside the universities themselves knew that Columbia University has been getting more than a billion dollars aContinue reading “Patronage for higher education is one-sided campaign financing”

Rule of law and democracy are abused by Trump’s foes in Connecticut too

By Chris Powell While Donald Trump is reckless, a bully, and sometimes worse, his return to the presidency was caused in part by the sort of hypocrisy shown by the thousands of people who last week protested him in Connecticut and across the country. Who’d want to be governor amid what’s lurking ahead? Connecticut’s electionsContinue reading “Rule of law and democracy are abused by Trump’s foes in Connecticut too”

Who’d want to be governor amid what’s lurking ahead?

By Chris Powell In an interview the other day Governor Lamont sounded unenthusiastic about seeking a third term. He complained that legislators and municipal officials parade through his office asking for goodies at state government expense even as the Trump administration is slashing away at financial aid to Connecticut, punching big holes in state government’sContinue reading “Who’d want to be governor amid what’s lurking ahead?”

Connecticut’s elections can’t be secure without proof of citizenship

By Chris Powell Having fallen in love with executive orders even more than his predecessor did, President Trump is coming down with a bad case of megalomania. He has little authority to command the states to follow any particular election procedures, as he presumed to do with another executive order the other day. Congress canContinue reading “Connecticut’s elections can’t be secure without proof of citizenship”