Author Archives: ptmadmin

In one of Bill Buckley’s last television interviews, Charlie Rose asked him to explain the differences between the conservative movement today and the one Buckley started with National Review in 1955. Buckley replied that conservatives back then had a unifying enemy – communism – and all sorts of political factions on the Right were willing to set aside some glaring differences of opinion to stop the communist menace. And what about today’s conservative movement? Buckley paused and said, conservatives today are “trifling up against the general sense of satisfaction.” read more

Does it bother you that Vice-President Mike Pence proudly shares that he talks with God? I have to admit it bothered me a bit – but not for the same reasons many other people became uncomfortable with Pence’s revelation.

I understand why some people are dismayed by the vice-president’s faith in open display in the public square. In fact, a “faith standard” is a pretty high bar to meet in terms of public service. For instance, how credible is the faith of a man who thinks Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio is a shining example of the rule of law, a man to be honored? If Pence’s faith-based political judgment whispers that Arpaio is an honorable man, what are we to think about Pence’s judgment on a wide array of other political topics? read more

Upon the announcement nearly two years ago from then-FBI Director James Comey that he would not further pursue the Hillary Clinton email scandal, I shared these thoughts with you:

Perhaps like me, you too watched all or a part of the congressional hearing with FBI Director James Comey. Regardless of his answers and defense of his report to the Justice Department, how did Comey come across to you? How did he make you feel? Did you sense a difference between Comey and Clinton or Trump? Did Comey come across as a liar? Did appear to be just another slick lawyer? Was there anything in Comey’s presentation that made you feel uneasy or that he wasn’t telling the truth as he sees it? read more

Salt Lake Tribune editorial writer, Michelle Quist, has spent her last two columns on equal pay for women. I have applauded both columns. I think equal pay for women is an obvious good, a no-brainer like legalizing the “dreamer” kids. Not many public policies are as easy to address as these two policies.

In fact, equal pay for women is such an easy concept to wrap your head around, it makes me wonder what opponents and even reluctant supporters are worried about? We have heard the many circumstantial excuses why policy makers and some business leaders are unwilling to accept the obvious – women’s lives are different than men, they are in and out of the work force, they cannot give full attention to their jobs because of domestic distractions, etc. read more

Now that the Utah Medical Marijuana Initiative has inched closer to obtaining a spot on the November statewide ballot, it is a good time to get absolutely real about what policies, and their societal effects, are at stake. Supporters of the measure argue that good people are being forced to break the law just to relieve chronic pain. Opponents argue that this initiative is simply the first step in a broader campaign to legalize pot, as in Colorado. So who is right?

Every statewide ballot initiative permits supporters and opponents to offer a few words to argue their case with voters. I would add a new category of ballot explanation titled, “The Truth” and here is what I would argue: read more

Immediately preceding the crucifixion of Jesus, the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, told the accusing crowd of Sanhedrin, “I find no fault in him.” He told them four times, “I find no fault in him.” The Sanhedrin wanted Jesus dead and, under both Jewish and Roman law in this circumstance, only the Roman governor could order the death of Jesus. But Pilate found Jesus innocent of the trumped up charge of sedition.

In the end, Pilate became more concerned with maintaining his position as governor of Judea than with the truth. He capitulated to the irrational but vociferous Sanhedrin and ordered Jesus crucified. Wrought with guilt for condemning an innocent man, Pilate symbolically washed his hands of the blood about to be shed and announced he had nothing to do with it. read more

On my desk in my home office I have several yellow “sticky” notes upon which I write reminders, sometimes for my “to-do” list but mostly with those momentary but deeper reflections I feel I need to capture for later pondering. One of those deeper thoughts constantly before my eyes says, “Good policy requires good character.”

Of course, for those who know me, this theme of personal character has been important to me. Character has been my basis for understanding freedom, supporting the issues I have supported over the years and opposing the many ideologies and ideologues I have opposed. For instance, my opposition to the ideology of libertarianism is about its general lack of intellectual and moral character rather than disagreement over any particular issue. read more

By now, a week after his death, Stephen Hawking has discovered his atheism. He now knows that God exists or he knows nothing because a spiritless, decomposing body is nothing. Hawking is either standing among God’s children (yes, standing) or, as he liked to say, his life has the value of an iPhone dropped in the toilet – no value at all.

Hawking was a dedicated atheist or, rather, he was a dedicated scientist who felt that the latter engineered the former. Here are some quotes from Hawking on God and science: read more