Paul Jacob

Paul Jacob

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Productive politicians ignore voters?

By Paul Jacob (Dec 26, 2010)

Obama is in the White House and all is right with the world. According to media far and wide, this is the upshot of the President’s post-Election Day shellacking... more

America's No. 1 freedom fighter

By Paul Jacob (Dec 19, 2010)

Everybody hates Tim Eyman. That’s what you might think if you spent too much time listening to politicians in his home state of Washington, or perusing ill-mannered... more

Get back to work

By Paul Jacob (Dec 12, 2010)

Sometimes we feel bad after an election because we’ve lost. Other times, we feel bad even when we’ve won. Today is one of those other times. Don’t get me... more

Yet another Washington turkey

By Paul Jacob (Nov 28, 2010)

In Washington, we can always expect the triumph of symbolism over substance, the emblematic turkey over the actual Meleagris gallopavo. Even when it comes to something as... more

Reform without fraud?

By Paul Jacob (Nov 21, 2010)

The biggest welfare state program is not a giveaway. Almost no one thinks of it as “state aid” or “political charity.” Most Americans think of it as their... more

Gearing up for failure?

By Paul Jacob (Nov 14, 2010)

Are “Tea Party” Republicans gearing up to fail just like the Democrats did? Republicans say they want less government, but the best they have ever done is to... more

If this be extremism, make the least of it

By Paul Jacob (Nov 07, 2010)

Now that Tea Party activists have swung an election, not merely to the Republicans, but to a certain brand of Republicans — those apparently committed to opposing... more

The coming government shutdown

By Paul Jacob (Oct 31, 2010)

After next Tuesday’s election, Republicans will be the ultimate political power in the universe — or, at least, in the United States of America. That is, if GOP... more

Forever blowing bubbles

By Paul Jacob (Oct 24, 2010)

In the words of an old song, we’re “forever blowing bubbles.” Fearing deflation and falling prices and general sluggishness (three things that need not go... more

Too late to buy votes?

By Paul Jacob (Oct 17, 2010)

When compiling the numerous and monstrous advantages of incumbency, a friend argues that one should not forget to add the entire federal budget to the equation. He has a... more

Trust the politicians, not your neighbors?

By Paul Jacob (Oct 10, 2010)

This November, voters in four states will see ballot measures seeking to place a right to hunt and fish into their constitutions. In three of those states, the issues are... more

Easy to boycott "Parker Spitzer"

By Paul Jacob (Oct 03, 2010)

You can send a message to the mainstream media about the importance of rewarding what’s right, instead of what’s wrong. It’s really easy. Tomorrow night,... more

The 10 measures to watch

By Paul Jacob (Sep 26, 2010)

Republicans may sweep into a congressional majority this November. Will it matter? Considering that our current ills began long before President Obama and the... more

A contract on America's politicians

By Paul Jacob (Sep 19, 2010)

Reactions to “The Contract With America,” New Gingrich’s pledge and organizing principle for the Revolution of 1994, were not all positive. Indeed, the usual... more

Ministers past their prime

By Paul Jacob (Sep 12, 2010)

“It’s funny because it’s true.” I’m not sure that this exactly amounts to a law of humor. Many things are funny and they aren’t true. And... more

Working for the man

By Paul Jacob (Sep 05, 2010)

Years ago, my wife and I recounted our early public school experiences to our children. My wife boasted that she finished her schoolwork before her classmates and then got to... more

Bites of big eaters

By Paul Jacob (Aug 29, 2010)

When I think back to my parents’ dinner table, when my five siblings and I were growing up, food just isn’t my main memory. More fondly, I recall the consistent and... more

Ten grand a whale foot

By Paul Jacob (Aug 22, 2010)

Taxation has a tendency to sink into the arbitrary. It’s fairly easy to tax, by simple percentage of price, items that are exchanged for money at discrete moments in... more

This is how government is...

By Paul Jacob (Aug 15, 2010)

Fighting three ethics charges, Congresswoman Maxine Waters now performs her most important public service, illustrating modern national governance in a way that is clear and... more

Do you trust the people?

By Paul Jacob (Aug 08, 2010)

“Do you trust the people?” We had barely been seated at the restaurant when my guest fired off his query. I had asked him to lunch after a state capitol event,... more

Of, by and from the people, for the politicians

By Paul Jacob (Jul 25, 2010)

Does your city manager make $800,000 a year? Before you answer, you might want to check. Maybe file an open records request with your city. You might get the same... more

Something or nothing

By Paul Jacob (Jul 18, 2010)

It’s hot this summer, with public anger toward Washington — the White House, Congress, Democrats, Republicans — bubbling up like an asphalt parking... more

The curse of the invisible elephant

By Paul Jacob (Jul 11, 2010)

There’s nothing so terrible as a bad idea who’s time has come. In 1929, the idea was protectionism. Against the overwhelming advice of economists, Republicans in... more

Word and deed and independence

By Paul Jacob (Jul 04, 2010)

Sometimes the word is the deed. To say “I promise” is to promise. To say “I am free” is to stand up for yourself, to take the first step... more

Profits: A Matter of Life and Death

By Paul Jacob (Jun 27, 2010)

It is an anniversary one does not celebrate, but mourn. The pain is still fresh — piercing and overwhelming for the loved ones of the nine Washington, D.C.-area... more

Washington irreality

By Paul Jacob (Jun 20, 2010)

The few remaining newspaper-reading residents of our nation’s capital were greeted, yesterday morning, with a large, unavoidable picture, in the Washington Post, of... more

Opting for Optimism

By Paul Jacob (Jun 13, 2010)

Pessimism is the lazy stepchild of vigilance. There. I’ve said it. That’s the one bit of wisdom for today. Why bring it up? Well, there’s... more

The most important political race in America?

By Paul Jacob (Jun 06, 2010)

Getting soft on politicians? Not on your life. It’s just that Oklahoma State Senator Randy Brogdon is nothing like a run-of-the-mill politician. He’s a... more

White House whitewash

By Paul Jacob (May 30, 2010)

Impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich goes on trial this week for allegedly attempting to sell his appointment to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President... more

Baby steps

By Paul Jacob (May 23, 2010)

Back in college, decades ago, my political theory professor regaled his students with stories of the brilliant political analyses and insights of his favorite European... more

The best branch of government

By Paul Jacob (May 16, 2010)

When ranking the branches of the federal government, “good, better, best” doesn’t quite cut it. Far better an Olbermannian concoction of worse, worser,... more

The Spike that broke the people’s back

By Paul Jacob (May 09, 2010)

Governments, Thomas Jefferson wrote so eloquently in our Declaration of Independence, derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” This founding... more

It's not about tea

By Paul Jacob (May 02, 2010)

Those who adore modern, unlimited government have a problem. A few problems, actually, but biggest is their obvious inability to say “no” to government... more

Festering for decades

By Paul Jacob (Apr 25, 2010)

The latest Pew Research Center survey of public opinion shows that Americans trust their government even less than they did before. Apparently, nearly half of us think... more

The day heard 'round the nation

By Paul Jacob (Apr 18, 2010)

Tomorrow is April 19. For what is this date famous? That’s easy. April 19 marks the anniversary of “the shot heard ’round the world.” No,... more

Calcutta, USA

By Paul Jacob (Apr 11, 2010)

For all the zany goings-on up and down his pant leg during orations by President Obama, Chris Matthews’s political vision can still sometimes be acute. Matthews... more

Seeing red

By Paul Jacob (Apr 04, 2010)

This year Social Security will hit its budget crisis, seven years ahead of schedule. In 2010, the wizards in Washington will have to pay out more to beneficiaries than... more

Going to Utah to pay my respects

By Paul Jacob (Mar 28, 2010)

Long before the crack of tomorrow’s dawn, this old man will be creaking out of bed, cantering to the airport and jetting to Salt Lake City, Utah. In some respects,... more

No hope for change?

By Paul Jacob (Mar 21, 2010)

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on health care legislation. Sorta. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s goal is to pass the Senate bill and send it to the... more

Deaf on earmarks

By Paul Jacob (Mar 14, 2010)

In the grand scheme of things — among all the wasteful, foolish, corrupting things engaged in by members of Congress — earmarks are one small item. We... more

What was I thinking?

By Paul Jacob (Mar 07, 2010)

Yesterday I turned 50. Time flies when you’re having fun. For the last 30-plus years — my entire adult life — I’ve worked in politics. That might... more

Change, loose change, spare change, and crooks

By Paul Jacob (Feb 28, 2010)

It’s hard to fathom, but 10 percent of Americans believe Congress is doing a good or excellent job. That high, eh? The recent Rasmussen Reports survey also reveals... more

Let freedom live

By Paul Jacob (Feb 21, 2010)

Tomorrow, February 22, at 5:00 pm, I’ll close my office door and take five minutes to quietly reflect upon heroism, honor, courage and fealty to truth. And... more

How can I miss you if you won't go away?

By Paul Jacob (Feb 14, 2010)

A Wyoming, Minnesota, billboard juxtaposes a picture of former President George W. Bush, sporting one of his signature goofy smiles, with a caption that reads: “Miss... more

An honest politician and a big fat F in Democracy 101

By Paul Jacob (Feb 07, 2010)

Tim Eyman, Washington state’s so-called “initiative king,” calls Sen. Ken Jacobsen (D-Seattle) “the most honest elected official” on the issue of... more

Queen Meg of California

By Paul Jacob (Jan 31, 2010)

Meg Whitman is running for the California governorship. Obviously, Whitman very much wants Californians to cast a vote for her this year. And then, apparently, she wants to... more

The 'nothing burger'

By Paul Jacob (Jan 24, 2010)

Everyone makes mistakes — especially politicians. Most folks learn from those mistakes — but generally not politicians. After the historic upset in which... more

The one thing the Democrats have going for them

By Paul Jacob (Jan 17, 2010)

Rejoice! The Democratic Congress is self-destructing. What but their demise could be expected after a year-long session of pushing unpopular programs through Congress in a... more

Not another party

By Paul Jacob (Jan 10, 2010)

Less than a year in, Americans have already lost faith in President Obama. Most had previously lost faith in congressional Democrats, and before that, congressional... more

Murtha’s America

By Paul Jacob (Jan 03, 2010)

As 2009 drew to a close, the Office of Congressional Ethics ended its investigation of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and several other congressmen associated with PMA Group, a... more