From the Lawton Constitution When it comes to the situation in Venezuela, President Trump made an interesting comment: “If any South American country misbehaves toward any European country, let the European country spank it.” While this certainly sounds like something Trump might say, the quote actually belongs to Theodore Roosevelt. It is a reminder that … Continue reading The long shadow of the Monroe Doctrine
Tag: donald-trump
When protest threatens democracy
From the Lawton Constitution For me, one of the most important issues we face moving forward is our respect for law and democracy. Whether one agrees with it or not, ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is a legal federal agency carrying out legally authorized duties. To claim otherwise is misleading and, at best, risks … Continue reading When protest threatens democracy
Constitution 101: Revenue and Presentation Clauses
From the Southwest Ledger As we begin the new year, we are also starting a new section of Article I, one of the most familiar and important parts of our Constitution. When we think about constitutional protections, we often focus on checks and balances, and one of the most notable of those checks is the … Continue reading Constitution 101: Revenue and Presentation Clauses
2025: A Year in Review
From the Lawton Constitution At the end of every year, I like to look back over my columns and reflect on the events significant enough to write about. Given the ups and downs of the past 12 months, it almost feels cliché to say that 2025 was a crazy year. Crazy has become the norm. … Continue reading 2025: A Year in Review
From Schenck to today: When political rhetoric edges toward dangerous lines
As a Civil War historian, I’m often asked how close we are to repeating 1860. My answer has always been that we aren’t there yet, but we are edging closer to the 1850s. A recent example of this rising partisanship came last month when six Democrats released a video urging U.S. troops to refuse presidential … Continue reading From Schenck to today: When political rhetoric edges toward dangerous lines
Constitution 101: The Ineligibility and Incompatibility Clauses
From Southwest Ledger When the American colonies first clashed with Britain over taxation, much of their frustration focused on Charles Townshend and later Frederick North. Both men served simultaneously as members of Parliament and as Chancellor of the Exchequer. In American terms, this would be like someone serving as a senator while also acting as … Continue reading Constitution 101: The Ineligibility and Incompatibility Clauses
The cost of misusing history in our political debates
From the Southwest Ledger I had an interesting experience in class last week; one I hope won’t get me in too much trouble. As the semester is winding down, one of my classes was giving presentations on their research projects. Two students happened to present on Nazis. Both did an excellent job; their work was … Continue reading The cost of misusing history in our political debates
Open primary voting and ending party choice? Not here.
From Southwest Ledger Next year, Oklahomans will have the opportunity to go to the polls and basically decide if the Republican Party will still be allowed to choose its own candidates for state elections. While this is being touted as closed versus open primary elections, it is more complicated than that.As the U.S. Supreme Court … Continue reading Open primary voting and ending party choice? Not here.
Constitution 101: Congressional Pay Clause
From Southwest Ledger We have come to the juicy part of our Constitution where members of Congress get paid. Congressional salaries have come under great scrutiny since our nation was founded. Lately, with the administration’s appointments and confirmation hearings, some may say, “Congress spends too much time investigating the people when someone should be investigating … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Pay Clause
Kimmel, Colbert, Cancel Culture and First Amendment Challenges
From the Southwest Ledger When I first started college, I, like many others my age, really enjoyed “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Stewart was not only smart, but I enjoyed the satirical way he looked at politics. Yet things began to change once George W. Bush was elected.Instead of being just lighthearted and funny, … Continue reading Kimmel, Colbert, Cancel Culture and First Amendment Challenges
Historically Speaking 