The Government War  —  In these columns I try to give voice to a philosophy you might call progressive conservatism.  It starts with the wisdom of Edmund Burke — the belief that the world is more complex than we can know and we should be skeptical of handing too much power to government planners.

SEC staffers watched porn as economy crashed  —  WASHINGTON - Senior staffers at the Securities and Exchange Commission spent hours surfing pornographic websites on government-issued computers while they were being paid to police the financial system, an agency watchdog says.

Have Conservatives Gone Mad?  —  Serious thinkers on the right have finally gotten around to a full and open debate on the epistemic closure problem that's plaguing the conservative movement.  The issue, to put it in terms that even I can understand, because I didn't study philosophy much in college: has the conservative base gone mad?

Barack Obama Strangelove Backing A Weapon Too Crazy For Bush/Cheney  —  The NY Times continues to present the Administration spin in favor of reducing our nuclear arsenal.  Part of the rationale was that our conventional weapons, such as smart bombs and cruise missile, are much more accurate and powerful.

What Kind of Socialist Is Barack Obama?  —  The assertion that Barack Obama is a socialist became a hallmark of the 2008 presidential campaign.  His opponent, John McCain, used Obama's own extemporaneous words to an Ohio plumber as Exhibit A: “When you spread the wealth around,” Obama had said, “it's good for everybody.”

Report says health care will cover more, cost more  —  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law is getting a mixed verdict in the first comprehensive look by neutral experts: More Americans will be covered, but costs are also going up.  —  Economic experts at the Health …

The Real Republican Civil War  —  The struggle between Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist for the Florida Senate seat symbolizes the rift between the reformers and the establishment in the GOP.  —  Marco Rubio appeared on a Sunday talk show this month to say something remarkable.

Sarah Palin Testifies in E-Mail Hacking Trial  —  David Kernell, 22, Faces Up to 50 Years in Prison If Convicted of Hacking Former VP Candidate's Account  —  Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, taking the stand this morning in the trial of a former college student accused of breaking into her Yahoo! …

Maybe America doesn't want an immobilized judicial branch after all. … - Climate Change Is Going To Reshape the American Electoral Map.  Here's How.- J. Lo's New Movie Is Terrible but Not as Bad as Other Rom-Coms- Project Runway Finale: The Nazi-Inspired Designs Win?

NOT ALL GAY SEX IS ABUSIVE  —  Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a story in today's New York Times about a case of alleged sexual abuse committed by a Chilean priest:  —  If a 17-year old guy has sex with an older guy for twenty years, and continues to have sex with him at the age of 38 …

Don't Cry for Wall Street  —  On Thursday, President Obama went to Manhattan, where he urged an audience drawn largely from Wall Street to back financial reform.  “I believe,” he declared, “that these reforms are, in the end, not only in the best interest of our country, but in the best interest of the financial sector.”

Gay Activists v. The White House: The Inside Story  —  For 17 years, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy has grabbed thousands of gay soldiers by their collars and thrown them out of the military.  By this time next year, that policy will be gone.  Gay people will be openly serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Institutionalizing Crony Capitalism  —  In the wake of the recent financial meltdown, Americans know that we need reform.  Not only have many individuals learned lessons about personal responsibility through this, but we've been able to engage in a discussion about government's appropriate role.

Kerry: Three Big Oil Companies Likely to Back Climate Bill  —  When Sens. John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman release their climate bill on Monday, they expect to have the backing of three of the five major oil companies, Mother Jones has learned.  In a conference call with a coalition …

GOP: Put Betty Sutton ‘back in the kitchen’?!  —  What's the best way to move women back decades?  Just ask the GOP.  —  The Republican Review, an apparent newsletter produced by the Medina County (Ohio) Republican Executive Committee, states the following:

Virginia DMV Pulls License Plate Coded With Neo-Nazi Message From Truck With Anti-Islam Imagery  —  A photo has been circulating the Internet this week showing a truck parked in a disabled person parking spot, emblazoned with a large Confederate flag, and featuring a picture of the World Trade Center burning.

Liberals and the Violence Card  —  Conservative protest is motivated by a love of what America stands for.  —  The latest liberal meme is to equate skepticism of the Obama administration with a tendency toward violence.  That takes me back 15 years ago to the time President Bill Clinton accused …

Obama Blasts Arizona Illegal Immigration Effort  —  This is pretty big: Obama just now sharply condemned the controversial anti-illegal immigration effort in Arizona, calling it “misguided” and “irresponsible” — and even said his administration could insert itself into the fight if civil rights are found to be violated.

Obama: ‘Irresponsible’ Arizona Immigration Bill ‘Threatens To Undermine Basic Notions Of Fairness’  —  This morning, while speaking at the Active Duty Naturalization Ceremony at the White House Rose Garden, President Obama emphasized the need for immigration reform.