Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

On John Roberts

This is an expansion of something I wrote in a thread: If Roberts really thinks that the federal insurance purchase mandate is constitutional, then he he ought to sleep well. If Roberts ruled in favor of the mandate as some kind of act of judicial statesmanship (well . . . maybe it will get . . . . Continue Reading »

The Real Majority Opinion On Obamacare…

isn’t necessarily the Chief Justice John Roberts-written opinion - or rather it is necessarily going to be the Roberts-written opinion for very long.  In his majority opinion, Roberts wrote that the interstate commerce clause does not give Congress the power to mandate that individuals . . . . Continue Reading »

No Spin

This is a great day for President Obama.  The argument against Obamacare from constitutional norms has been fatally wounded to the extent of winning over persuadables.  To the extent that pesuadables (especially fairly low information persuadables), feel in-their-bones that the government . . . . Continue Reading »

Waiting On A Greek Disaster

Since the beginning of the fiscal crisis in 2009, Greek politics has alternated periods of collapse with periods of decay.  We are in one of the latter periods now.  The bad news comes so often that it gets boring.  Here is the latest batch: 1.  Greece wants to renegotiate its . . . . Continue Reading »

Just A Really Quick Greece Note

If you want another reason to be pessimistic about Greece, take a look at the shameful wrangling over cabinet post during an emergency.  Do you think these petty, disgusting people will be able to stick to reforms in the face of resistance from entrenched interests and the loathing of a . . . . Continue Reading »

Apocalypse Later

Yesterday’s election result in Greece was about the best that could have been realistically hoped for. And that might be the most depressing thing.  Let’s recap:  Greece is broke.  Greece’s government needs loans to pay salaries and pensions, but only a lunatic . . . . Continue Reading »

The Sociopath and the Man-Child

Quick summary of Andreas Papandreou.  He was the son of Greek Prime Minster George Papandreou.  He was the founder of Greece’s socialist PASOK party that dominated Greek politics from 1981 until last year.  He was Prime Minister of Greece from 1981-1989 and 1990-1993.  The . . . . Continue Reading »

Filter Tag Articles