The Political Surf

The only certainty in New Hampshire is Romney wins

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Doug Gibson

New Hampshire is by nature contrary in politics. George W. Bush and Barack Obama were sure they would win the state this century, and lost. Heck, I recall that Gary Hart whipped Walter Mondale there in 1984. Romney’s going to … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged 2012 Republican presidential primaries, Jon Huntsman, Mitt Romney, New Hampshire GOP primary, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul | 2 Comments

Progressives, young adults, are the chumps of the Obama era

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Doug Gibson

Simple question: What political interest group has been more abused by a candidate these suckers backed? It’s an easy answer — progressives, particularly those under 30, who supported President Barack Obama. The Obama administration has punk-slapped these poor saps to … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged President Obama, Progressives, Ron Paul, Wall Street, War on Terror, Young voters | 5 Comments

Nauvoo City Council’s minutes of 1840s provide chaos, contention and lies

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here)The LDS Church Library no longer allows access to the Nauvoo City Council and High Council minutes from 1839 to 1845. That’s a shame, but the minutes, when accessible, … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Anti-Mormon mobs, Habeus corpus law, Hyrum Smith, John Dinger, Joseph Smith, Nauvoo, Nauvoo Expositor, Polygamy, Signature Books, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Nauvoo City and High Council Minutes | 11 Comments

Romney will likely win narrowly in Iowa

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Doug Gibson

The Iowa caucus is political candy that lasts the whole year. Its history is more adapt at spotting losers than winners. It seems that three candidates, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum (the latest Tea Party “rabbit” in Iowa) … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged 2012 Republican presidential primaries, 2012 Republican presidential race, Iowa and New Hampshire polls, Iowa Republican caucuses, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul | 5 Comments

Monsters and Mormons provides edgy chills and thrills

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Doug Gibson

I don’t think LDS readers will be able to find Monsters and Mormons at Deseret Book or Seagull Book. I’d love to be wrong about that, but it’s my experience that fantasy at those stores never matures beyond puberty. Those interested … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Baptisms for the Dead, Bokev Momen, C. Douglas Birkhead, D. Michael Martindale, Monsters and Mormons, Mormon fiction, Terryl Givens, Theric Jepson | 7 Comments

Newt Gingrich was for RomneyCare before he was against it

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Doug Gibson

One of the main problems with Newt Gingrich as presidential timbre is that he tends to talk out of his as… uh, … rear end. Before Newt was taken seriously, Mitt Romney parried a “Newt-bomb” attack on states enacting individual … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged 2012 presidential race, 2012 Republican presidential primaries, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, RomneyCare, Ron Paul | 4 Comments

Book presents case that libertarianism, Mormon doctrine, are compatible

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Doug Gibson

The book, “Latter-day Liberty,” by Utah County political activist Connor Boyack, is extremely provocative. If sales gain steam, it could provoke a political debate within Mormonism. I say that as someone who disagrees with Boyack’s conclusions at times. Yet, his … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Agency, Connor Boyack, Latter Day Liberty, LDS Church, Libertarianism, Liberty, Mormon doctrine, Ron Paul, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 61 Comments

The payroll tax cut needs to end

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Doug Gibson

“Do you want to know what lives longer than a vampire?” … “What?” … “A one-year tax cut.” OK, I know it’s not great humor, but at least it’s wry humor. How can one not at least chuckle at the … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Democrats, Entitlements, Feckless politicians, Payroll tax cut, Republicans, U.S. Congress, Value-added tax | 5 Comments

Demagogic political rhetoric has a colorful, long history

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Doug Gibson

The fight over extending the payroll tax cut is as interesting to watch for the political rhetoric pitched by pols as it is for the actual arguments. Watch the debate sometime via C-Span and you’ll get the idea that the opposing … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Claude Pepper, George Smathers, Jean L. Morrison, New York Daily News, Political demagoguery, Political rhetoric, President Harry Truman, Rep. Clarence J. Brown, Washington Post | 5 Comments

LDS Church, through Church News, praised Hitler, Nazi Germany

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here) History is blunt. Left to itself, it doesn’t spin or gloss over unpleasant facts. The positive side to unvarnished history is that it can prevent future mistakes. There … Read More