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In my last column, I wrote of the Executive Branch's responsibility to enforce all laws passed by the legislature. Failure to do so means that the executive (whether governor or president) is not doing his or her job. However, I was at dinner the other night with a friend who studies constitutional law when she posed this question in response: If a law is passed by the legislature that is in clear violation of the U.S. Constitution (or even a state constitution), does the executive have a respon

On Tuesday, March 11, Michael Austin published a story examining the argument that the government should not be picking winners and losers. He said that he would vote this the "Most Obnoxious Talking Point in 2014." While it certainly can be considered in contention for the title, perhaps a more obnoxious talking point comes from politicians and political groups who claim to be bullied by anyone who would challenge their position or approach on an issue.It seems the go to strategy in contemporar

I broke my own rule this week and compared somebody to Hitler. It was only a little argumentum ad nazium. I suggested that Russian’s recent move to seize the largely Russian-speaking Crimean region of Ukraine had a lot of historical parallels to Hitler’s 1938 invasion of to annex the largely German-speaking Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. Apparently, Hillary Clinton has been thinking the same thing, and has taken the predictable fire that such comparison’s inevitably bring. There was onl

There are people in the world who have sincere religious objections to taking their clothes off in public places while total strangers stuff money in their underwear. These people should not become strippers. There are other people who have a sincere and constitutionally protected right not to engage in usury, or the lending of money at interest. These people should not own banks. And I personally know a number of people who object, on perfectly valid religious grounds, to killing or causing t

Recently, Bob Haran, chairman of the Constitution Party of Arizona, issued a press release announcing his support for the nonpartisan top-two primary. Haran said he appreciates the partisan argument that non-members of a party should not have a say on who represents the party in a general election. However, he pointed out that candidates selected in the primary are not only being selected to represent the party, but the constituents of their electoral district or state. "I believe the voter has

Once again, Arizona is back in the headlines, and once again, it's caused a national uproar. As the same-sex marriage debate continues to snowball in the public square, the Grand Canyon state now waits to see whether or not Governor Jan Brewer will sign the controversial 'Religious Freedom Restoration Act'. Supporters of the law say that it only strengthens existing laws and seeks to ensure everyone's religious freedoms are protected against religious discrimination. Opponents of the law, howe

Although President Obama once called immigration “the most important domestic policy agenda of his second term,” political discord -- particularly within the Republican ranks -- has slowed progress on immigration policy to a snail’s pace. Major disagreements lie in decisions over amnesty for illegal aliens, which tea party groups ardently oppose, and border security. However, immigration policies have a long and complicated history in the U.S., which date back to the early republic. While Amer

With the November general election a few months away and several primary and special elections ahead, the Presidential Commission on Election Administration released a report in January outlining several recommendations to shore up voting lines, increase voter participation and registration, and improve the voter experience. The commission specifically called for states to encourage the use of schools as polling places. Yet, some state election boards and school administrations have pushed back

It seems that in every cycle there is debate about which states should hold the first presidential primary elections. Some state always seems to try to jump ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire. Since 1972, the Iowa Caucuses have been first in the nation and New Hampshire has been the first "primary" since 1920. There, of course, have been states that have attempted to circumvent Iowa and New Hampshire, claiming that they don't truly represent America as they are small states with seemingly narrow

U.S. Representative Ron Barber (D-AZ) is looking at a tough fight in 2014 to keep his incumbency in Arizona's Second Congressional District. He is one of the many Democratic politicians in danger of losing their seat this year. The main danger to Barber's seat is Republican Martha McSally, a retired U.S. air force colonel who narrowly lost to Barber in the 2012 election. With one of her primary challengers -- radio talk show host Ed Martin -- dropping out, McSally is the clear GOP frontrunner i