Tag Archives | Bill Clinton

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Consenting to Endless Coercion

Consenting to Endless Coercion by James Bovard Presidents perennially claim that they possess their power thanks to “the consent of the governed.” This phrase, a signature line of the Declaration of Independence, has echoed in official declarations ever since Jefferson’s time. President Harry Truman assured Congress in 1952, “No government can be invested with a […]

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Waco and the Death of Congressional Oversight

Waco and the Death of Congressional Oversight by James Bovard, July 22, 2025 How many atrocities can the federal government get away with? Americans are still vexed by the answers that Congress failed to deliver in 1995. Thirty summers ago, Washington was fixated by a Capitol Hill showdown over the greatest federal abuse of power […]

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The Deadly Perils of Predatory Idealism

The Deadly Perils of Predatory Idealism by James Bovard How would people react if, on the third time their broken-down car was towed to the same repair shop for the same problem, the swaggering mechanic told them: “Sure — the engine doesn’t work today but — follow me on this — next year, you will […]

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Will Playing with Legal Nitroglycerine Destroy the Trump Administration?

  The Civil Service War: Can Trump Succeed Where Other Presidents Failed? James Bovard,  AIER •March 24, 2025 Writing eight years ago in USA Today, I cheered: “President Trump’s proposed budget takes a big step towards draining the swamp in Washington. This is the first time since the Reagan era that a president has sought […]

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The “Freedom From Fear” Ticket for Tyranny

The “Freedom From Fear” Ticket for Tyranny by James Bovard | Oct 23, 2024 The Democratic Party is championing presidential candidate Kamala Harris as a born-again champion of freedom. Earlier this year, Democrats shifted their focus from democracy to freedom, convinced that the latter word would enthrall voters on Election Day. Providing “freedom from fear” […]

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Democracy’s Damndest Defamation

Democracy’s Damndest Defamation by James Bovard , September 4, 2024 In a democracy, people automatically become liable for whatever the government inflicts upon them. Many of the most deadly errors of contemporary political thinking stem from the notion that in a democracy the government is the people and vice versa, so there is scant reason […]

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Time to Separate Piety and Politics

Time to Separate Piety and Politics by James Bovard The First Amendment of the Constitution specifies, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” In Washington, the “free exercise thereof” perennially includes politicians exploiting religion to sanctify themselves and all their power grabs. It would take divine […]

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