Michael McKenna
Columns by Michael McKenna
Calls for unity really mean ‘stop disagreeing with Biden’
Religion is divisive. That was the sum of a Twitter comment to a news story that President Biden, like a billion or so of his fellow Catholics, had gone to Mass recently. Published March 14, 2021
Republicans must get serious about opposing Democrats expanding welfare state
It turns out that the royal family of our previous rulers is having some troubles. Published March 10, 2021
Mike Pence the leading GOP candidate for 2024 nomination
In the likely event that Donald Trump decides to forego running again, the party will need someone who can capture his best traits and avoid his worst ones. Published March 5, 2021
Affordable Care Act: The bad idea that will not die
Like many things tried by the federal government, the Affordable Care Act has been a failure. Published March 3, 2021
Real failure in Texas blackouts is the failure of responsibility
The recent blackouts in Texas killed at least 80 people, left millions of ratepayers at substantial financial risk, and damaged thousands of companies and small businesses. Published February 27, 2021
Forget the border wall. To reduce illegal immigration, jail employers who hire ineligible workers
The Republicans are learning quickly how to be in the minority in Congress, and that's good news. Published February 24, 2021
The new cold war: U.S. must stop China from stealing its intellectual property
One of the most important issues of our competition with the Chinese Communist Party is its theft of intellectual property from leading universities and research institutions in the United States. Published February 19, 2021
Republican voters are tired of a party that simply wants to ‘hold the line’
The intramural tussle between Republicans is not going to be settled by pundits or party platforms or people who write columns. It is going to be settled by candidates and voters and elections. Published February 17, 2021
Be grateful for George Washington: America’s ‘indispensable man’
On Monday, we celebrate George Washington's birthday, as we have for almost 200 years. Published February 14, 2021
Catholic schools understand education is essential part of salvation
Those of us fortunate enough to be educated in Catholic schools were glad to be so. Published February 10, 2021
House marches toward its death with vote to strip Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of committee posts
House Democrats, joined by about a dozen unthinking Republicans, on Thursday voted to do away with the committee system and change the way the House of Representatives has operated since its inception. Published February 5, 2021
Pelosi leading nation down dark path by using impeachment as political strategy
On Friday, we commemorate the first anniversary of President Trump's acquittal in his first impeachment trial, even as we look forward to the second trial. Published February 3, 2021
What exactly is Biden trying to stimulate with a U.S. economy already in rebound?
As the rough beast of federal "stimulus" legislation slouches toward reconciliation to be born, it is worth noting that the economy doesn't really need any stimulus. Published January 30, 2021
Energy industry foolishly welcomes Biden as he initiates ‘produce no more oil’ policy
In Washington, you have to be careful what you say, because even if you're kidding, you never know when people might take you seriously. Published January 27, 2021
States must stand up to feds to stop poaching of their power
The word "federalism" does not appear in the Constitution, yet it is the guiding principle that preserves the United States from the defects of unitary governments, like Great Britain, in which all power flows from one central government, and the defects of confederation, in which power is dispersed and consequently attenuated beyond usefulness. Published January 26, 2021
Chinese communists cannot be brought into civilized world through trade
China's aggressive and illicit behavior cannot be ignored, should not be tolerated, and will not be changed by European money. Published January 24, 2021
Trump’s accomplishments will remain part of the American fabric
As he departs the center ring for one of the smaller rings of American politics, it is fitting and proper that we take stock of President Trump's presidency. Published January 20, 2021
Team Trump and Team Black Lives Matter are more alike than you think
Trump crew and Team Black Lives Matter are bound together by grievances against the state and the polity it represents. Published January 16, 2021
We can’t repeat the mistake Southern states made in 1860
In the election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln won the presidency with 39.8% of the vote, the lowest percentage of any person to be inaugurated president. Published January 13, 2021
U.S. elections are not worth sacrificing one’s ‘personal’ life
Those who lost in November need to accept the loss -- gracefully or otherwise -- and move along. Published January 8, 2021
