Washington

An elected representative of the people should have a more sophisticated view of the peoples’ necessities: among which necessities can rightly be numbered the claim to liberty and free, where possible, choice; the opportunity to spin plans and projects, with minimal outside guidance; the comparative intimacy of a relationship with local governing officials, contrasted with officials dwelling half a continent away, rudimentarily informed of what it means to live in Billings, Montana, or Hernando, Mississippi.

The governors of  Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska want President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to continue Obama's backdoor legalization of marijuana at the federal level, rather than pursue a straightforward decriminalization passed by Congress.

Don’t blame a people for turning on elites who thought they knew better but proved over and over that they didn’t. It is thoroughly rational to want something else instead. Even if that something else turns out not to deliver either, at least you know it’s not the same as what’s failed.

Over the last century, in particular, power and authority have inexorably flowed into Washington. As a result, people’s liberties and states’ responsibilities have shrunk dramatically. So much for the fabled Land of Liberty.

The ongoing strife in Ukraine is a crime by Moscow and tragedy for Kiev.  It’s also a warning for America. Washington should turn Europe’s security back to Europe.

Sarah Palin endorsed Miss. state Sen. Chris McDaniel in his tea party-backed bid to challenge Thad Cochran. Palin says she'll continue to endorse conservative candidates who are willing to stand up to the permanent political class and not just go along to get along with "the corrupt status quo."

Conservative blacks disagree with the liberal tone of events for the 50th anniversary of MLK’s march.

An IRS supervisor based in Washington says she personally handled 20-30 Tea Party applications.