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Hostile reaction to DOJ religious liberty task force

Today Attorney General Jeff Sessions held a press conference announcing the Justice Department's religious liberty task force. The summary of Sessions's statement provided on Good Morning America's Facebook page did not seem at all alarming -- in fact it seemed welcome and overdue: Sessions says the task force will "help...

Posted by Michael Bates on July 31, 2018 7:50 AM

Rick Steves needs to tour his own country "through the back door"

For many Americans, Rick Steves is the guru of European travel, specifically of an approach to travel he calls "through the back door" -- skipping the high-priced hotels, chain restaurants, and tourist traps which insulate you in an American bubble, and instead encountering authentic local culture, staying at B&Bs, hostels,...

Posted by Michael Bates on December 23, 2016 10:20 PM

Gnosticism: The American Religion

Over at The Federalist (which is rapidly becoming my favorite site for news and opinion), Peter Burfeind has written an essay that explains the philosophical roots of the sexual revolution in this country, as part of a larger rebellion against nature and reality -- an ancient rebellion known as Gnosticism:...

Posted by Michael Bates on June 29, 2015 1:55 PM

OCPA scholarship essay contest on civil society and government growth

One can argue about whether the death of marriage leads to big government or vice versa, but simply raising the topic shouldn't put one beyond the pale, should it? -- Mark Steyn, "Weird Politics," National Review OCPA has raised that question, and they're giving high school seniors a chance to...

Posted by Michael Bates on March 26, 2013 5:29 PM

Impeech Sally Kern an make Oakkies look gooder

This morning an off-duty Tulsa city planner tweeted a link to a "memorial" -- a petition seeking the impeachment of State Rep. Sally Kern. A number of the 150 or so signers commented that they consider Kern, who is, like Pres. Obama, Gov. Henry, and nearly every member of Congress...

Posted by Michael Bates on July 6, 2009 12:26 PM