The underlying assumptions of this commentary

No one should make the mistake that many conservatives do of claiming that liberals have no morals, and no moral backbone. We have a different system of morals than those conservatives, but it is a very principled set of morals and we’re just as passionate about them. The battle for the soul of America is very much a moral battle.

Willy Mutunga On the Merits: Why He Would Make A Great Chief Justice

By: James Thuo Gathii*

On the merits, Dr. Willy Mutunga meets and exceeds the criteria set out in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya for appointment to the position of Chief Justice. His detractors have ignored the values, concerns and issues that have characterized his public service and career. Instead, they have shamefully in the time tested politics of dirt smearing and character assassination began scouring everywhere, including on his earlobes and his private life, to look for disqualifying characteristics.

Bargaining with Pirates

The Republicans are playing hardball. They want Democrats to cut the budget, repeatedly, without raising taxes, and without cutting military expenditures. And in return they’re willing to give nothing.

The story is that the Democrats cave. But it’s more insidious.

Bribery, Fraud, Anything for a Conviction

We all think railroading good people into prison takes place in other far away countries – Iran, Russia, China, but here we have justice and get to the bottom of things. But some very recent examples illustrate the weaknesses of our system.

In Foreign Affairs, Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick

It was Teddy Roosevelt who said “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Obama’s success in taking out bin Laden is a good example. But the principle goes far further than operational details and some people are having trouble with it.