Puerto Rico’s governor says island cannot pay back $70 billion in debt, is near ‘death spiral’

By Michael A. Fletcher  |  The Washington Post  |  June 29, 2015

The governor of Puerto Rico has decided that the island cannot pay back more than $70 billion in debt, setting up an unprecedented financial crisis that could rock the municipal bond market and lead to higher borrowing costs for governments across the United States.

Puerto Rico’s move could roil financial markets already dealing with the turmoil of the renewed debt crisis in Greece. It also raises questions about the once-staid municipal bond market, which states and cities count on to pay upfront costs for public improvements such as roads, parks and hospitals.

For many years, those bonds were considered safe investments — but those assumptions have been shifting in recent years as a small but steady string of U.S. municipalities, including Detroit, as well as Stockton and Vallejo in California, have tumbled into bankruptcy.

Those defaults at least offered investors the protection provided by Chapter 9 of the U.S. bankruptcy code, which sets out an orderly process by which investors can recoup at least some of their money. But like states, Puerto Rico is not permitted to file for bankruptcy. A failure to iron out an agreement with creditors could ignite an unwieldy, uncharted and long-lasting process to sort out the island’s financial obligations.

Let’s Attack Waste, Not Global Warming

By John Hofmeister  |  The Wall Street Journal  |  September 29, 2014

Supporters and opponents in the climate debate miserably fail to answer honestly the global-warming question and its impact on climate, because they can’t. No one can possibly know the future of this dynamic and not very well known planet to provide the definitive and absolute answer to the question that cannot be known for decades, even centuries, when anything can happen. We struggle to know or understand the past. How can we possibly know or understand the future? To be either categorically affirmative or negative is to be about as superficial, unscientific and fundamentally unfounded in the answer as one could possibly be. Why is that? Because such people are answering the wrong question! It’s like trying to answer another impossible question: is faith good or bad?

Let’s change the question to get at the obvious and categorically answerable truth affecting climate that will determine our future and the condition of the planet, which no one can deny. Is unfettered, unmanaged and uncontrolled waste able to destroy our planet and make it unlivable? Let’s refine the question. Is the lack of waste management of physical, liquid and gaseous waste on a pathway to destroy the planet as we know it? The answer to both questions is unequivocally, undeniably and absolutely, yes!

The lesson here is this: Let’s deal with certainty, not uncertainty.

Let’s discuss our future unambiguously and certifiably, not hypothetically.

I have met no one in recent years, at least in my lifetime, who promotes the illegal and irresponsible management of waste as we have tolerated it in the past. We don’t dump our trash on our neighbor’s porch for a reason. We know that what is emitted from exhaust pipes, smokestacks, and vents contains waste products that we don’t want in our lungs. We don’t urinate in reservoirs without repercussions. Waste is a problem that must be managed.

We could temper the debate, create universal consensus, establish and enforce public policy and improve and save the Earth from ourselves, if we decided to manage our waste, including its elimination, instead of managing global warming.

John Hofmeister (@cfaenergy) is former president of Shell Oil Co. and founder and head of Citizens for Affordable Energy. He is also a member of the U.S. Energy Security Council.

Glenn Reynolds: U.S. attorney chills Reason-able speech

By Glenn Harlan Reynolds  |  USA Today  |  June 22, 2015

What do you call it when a prosecutor forces a magazine to hand over confidential information —and then orders the magazine not to publish anything about it? Some might call it heavy-handed judicial overreach, but lately it's just another day at the office for those who purport to administer justice.

The magazine is Reason, a well-known libertarian publication that has been around for decades. The confidential information was IP and server information that would allow federal authorities to identify certain blog commenters to a story about the verdict and sentence in the Silk Road case. Though I and other legal experts who've looked at the situation don't think those comments could plausibly be considered "true threats" (and thus outside the protection of the First Amendment), Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Niketh Velamoor served Reason with a subpoena ordering it to turn over the IP addresses and other identifying information for those commenters.
Was that legal? Probably. Although — particularly in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Elonis v. United States, which came out days before Bharara's office acted— Internet hyperbole can't be punished unless it's both intended and reasonably understood as an actual threat, federal law enforcement has extensive investigative powers. So although the First Amendment gives you the right to say nasty things —and, even, to say them anonymously — it doesn't stop federal investigators from issuing a subpoena in an effort to discover your identity.

And if you're a magazine, such as Reason, that prides yourself on open comments, it doesn't stop the government from forcing you to turn over that identifying information. And, apparently, it doesn't stop the fed from ordering you not to tell people that you've been forced to turn over that information.

The frothings of Internet commenters, of course, are apt to be regarded as low-value speech. Even so, in a world where, increasingly, people are hounded out of their jobs or subjected to legal harassment for things that they say, the ability to speak anonymously is of growing importance.

As Reason editors Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch write: "Reason's experience needs to be understood in a larger context. Especially since the 9/11 attacks, there has been a mounting conflict between the values of free speech and constitutional due process, with government making increasing demands — often under threat of punishment —for all sorts of information from innocent citizens. Coupled with the rise of a secretive and pervasive surveillance state, this tension means that Americans have no way of knowing just how unfree their speech really is."

When the government orders people not to talk about what it's doing, it's hard to keep track of what it's doing. That's what the First Amendment is intended to prevent. It's ironic that the Obama administration — whose supporters in 2008 made much ofthreats to civil liberties from George W. Bush's national security apparatus — has so thoroughly embraced surveillance and gag orders.

Mike Rowe’s Stellar Reply to Letter Writer Calling His Work Ethic Movement ‘Right-Wing Propaganda’

By Dave Urbanski  |  The Blaze  |  June 7, 2015

Mike Rowe’s penchant for gently laying detractors low — and even educating them along the way — continues apace.

On Sunday, Rowe posted a letter from one Craig P. who complained about Rowe’s “tiresome” work ethic “harping,” filling the note with stereotypes and even calling Rowe’s “Sweat Pledge” “silly” and his whole deal “right-wing propaganda”:

Hey Mike

Your constant harping on “work ethic” is growing tiresome. Just because someone’s poor doesn’t mean they’re lazy. The unemployed want to work! And many of those who can’t find work today, didn’t have the benefit of growing up with parents like yours. How can you expect someone with no role model to qualify for one of your scholarships or sign your silly “Sweat Pledge?” Rather than accusing people of not having a work-ethic, why not drop the right-wing propaganda and help them develop one?

Craig P.

Think Rowe was content to leave those softballs hanging in midair without taking a swing? Not a chance.

After setting Craig straight about the blame Democrats and Republicans share in the “never-ending dance that gets more contorted by the day” regarding sociopolitical name-calling, Rowe dug into the problem that always seems to get ignored along the way.

“[N]o one said a word about the millions of jobs that American companies are struggling to fill right now,” he wrote.

Rowe then offered reasons why, namely what he sees simply as many people’s desire to not work, if “given the choice,” and the huge dearth of “soft skills.”

“That’s a polite way of saying that many applicants don’t tuck their shirts in, or pull their pants up, or look you in the eye, or say things like ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’” he wrote. “… this is a national crisis. We’re churning out a generation of poorly educated people with no skill, no ambition, no guidance, and no realistic expectations of what it means to go to work.”

Check out Rowe’s complete reply:Then came Rowe’s prime cut: “I don’t focus on groups. I focus on individuals who are eager to do whatever it takes to get started. People willing to retool, retrain, and relocate. That doesn’t mean I have no empathy for those less motivated. It just means I’m more inclined to subsidize the cost of training for those who are. That shouldn’t be a partisan position, but if it is, I guess I’ll just have to live with it.”

10 Personal Development Quotes to Motivate You!

By Mark Entest  |  Cash In On Your Passion  |  November 26, 2014

We could all use a little motivation in our lives! Here are 10 powerful personal development quotes to help inspire you into taking more action to get the results that you deserve!

1. As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising himself in right thinking.

   James Allen – As a Man Thinketh
   “As a Man Thinketh” was written by James Allen and published all the way back in 1902, yet so many of the principles are still great today! If you get a chance to read this book, you will immediately see the value in the wisdom that is shared, and how these principles have stood the test of time, literally, over a century and counting!
2. It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.

   André Gide – Autumn Leaves
   This quote helps to remind us not to be afraid of failure, or afraid of haters, as we embark upon our journey towards success. Along the way there will be many obstacles and setbacks, and many naysayers who will steal our dreams. But if you are chasing something that you truly love, it’s always worth it in the long run!

5 Powerful Books That Changed the Direction of My Life

By Brandon Turner  |  Entrepreneur  |  March 25, 2015

Quiz time: Can you name Newton's first law of motion?

No? (Don't feel bad, I had to look it up, too.)

Newton declared, "Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it."

In other words, if you are flying in the International Space Station and toss an apple out the window (come on, use your imagination), it will keep going in that same direction forever, unless something stops it (like a planet, gravity or alien life form).

Although Newton was talking about physics, little did he know he was also describing life.

People tend to move in the same direction as they always have unless some external force is applied. I don't know about you, but I don't want my life to be lived in a straight line. I want to change, to improve, to crush it.

This is why I read.

A book is a powerful external force that can completely knock your life off its mundane straight line and change everything about who you are. The following are five books that did just that in my life.

1. Rich Dad, Poor Dad


Something was eating me alive inside. (No, it wasn't a parasite.) It was an idea.

Something about work, life, money, wealth and freedom -- but I couldn't quite say what that idea was. For months it weighed on me, but I couldn't find words to express it.

Then came Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.

Finally, there were words for the internal dialogue that was taking place every minute of my life. I could finally form my abstract thoughts about money into actual speech -- and it changed my life forever.

It's hard to say exactly what Rich Dad, Poor Dad is because it means so many different things to so many different people. But the gist of it is this: The poor work for their money, but the rich make their money work for them. It's a mindset book more than anything, but with enough stories and examples to keep you captivated. It's no wonder this book is hands down the most popular book recommended by guests on The BiggerPockets Podcast that I co-host each week.

Kiyosaki taught me to stop saying, "It can't be done," and start asking, "How can it be done?" in every area of life. He started me on a journey that led me to buy my first rental property, followed by dozens of other investment properties that got me out of the "rat race" by the time I was 27.

For the first time, I began to see that wealth is not an accident, but an action. (Yes, I expect you to tweet that! I worked hard on that line!)

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad this week.

2. The Total Money Makeover


A year after reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad, a friend from church recommended I read through Dave Ramsey's book The Total Money Makeover, and once again, my life took a turn for the better after a rude awakening: my spending was out of control!

I was spending $1,000 a month more than I was making. How did I not realize this?

The Total Money Makeover helped me to look at my personal finances with more seriousness and gave me a passion to pay off debt, live more frugally, and save more money.

Suddenly, having a budget didn't seem like a chore, it felt like I finally had a reign on my wallet. I was in control of my spending. My spending was not in control of me.

As an entrepreneur, some months are financially better than others. However, because of the lessons I learned from The Total Money Makeover, I'm better prepared to handle the difficult times because I have a strong personal finance foundation.

Say it ain't so, Jack

By Ben S. Bernanke  |  The Brookings Institute  |  June 22, 2015

I must admit I was appalled to hear of Treasury Secretary Jack Lew's decision last week to demote Alexander Hamilton from his featured position on the ten dollar bill. My reaction has been widely shared, see for example here, here, here, here, and here.

Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, would qualify as among the greatest of our founders for his contributions to achieving American independence and creating the Constitution alone. In addition to those accomplishments, however, Hamilton was without doubt the best and most foresighted economic policymaker in U.S. history. As detailed in Ron Chernow's excellent biography, as Treasury Secretary Hamilton put in place the institutional basis for the modern U.S. economy. Critically, he helped put U.S. government finances on a sound footing, consolidating the debts of the states and setting up a strong federal fiscal system. The importance of Hamilton's achievement can be judged by the problems that the combination of uncoordinated national fiscal policies and a single currency has caused the Eurozone in recent years. Reflecting on those parallels, as Fed chairman I recommended Chernow's biography to Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank. Mario told me that he read it with great interest.

Hamilton also played a leading role in creating U.S. monetary and financial institutions. He founded the nation's first major bank, the Bank of New York; and, as Chernow points out, Hamilton's 1791 Report on the Mint set the basis for U.S. currency arrangements, which makes his demotion from the ten dollar bill all the more ironic. Importantly, over the objections of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Hamilton also oversaw the chartering in 1791 of the First Bank of the United States, which was to serve as a central bank and would be a precursor of the Federal Reserve System.

$15 Minimum Wage: You Can Change the Wage, but Not the Laws of Economics

By Sean Williams  |  The Motley Fool  |  June 6, 2015

 
Source: Wikimedia Commons user Delphi234. Dark purple represents nominal federal minimum wage, while light purple factors in the effect of inflation in 2013 dollars.

With the exception of marijuana, few issues have sparked the attention of Americans more than the debate about a rising minimum wage.

The last time the federal government raised the minimum wage, which currently sits at $7.25 per hour, was in 2009. Inflation following the Great Recession has luckily been averaging well below historical norms, but minimum wage workers have nonetheless seen their minimal buying power erode on a steady basis each and every year since 2009.

Workers fight for a "living wage"
The basis of the minimum wage debate revolves around the idea of paying workers a "living wage." A living wage is simply the amount a worker would need to earn on a monthly or annual basis in order to meet what's considered basic living expenses (i.e., food, electricity, and a roof over your head, for example). Right now, that's just not happening for many minimum wage workers. Assuming a minimum wage worker managed to find a 40-hour per week job, he or she would net just $15,000 per year in income -- and that's before taxes are taken out. For context, the federal poverty level in 2015 is $11,770 for an individual.

Source: Flickr user OFL Communications Department.

Now understand that multiple states, and even cities within states, set their own minimum wage levels higher than the federal minimum wage. Washington state offers the highest minimum wage in the country, at $9.47 per hour, and last year, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously (9-0) to boost the cities' minimum wage to $15 per hour, which is to be phased in over the course of a few years. Larger businesses within Seattle will need to comply with the $15 minimum wage law by 2017, or 2018 if they offer health insurance to their employees. Smaller businesses will have until 2020 to 2022 to meet the new standard.  

The Los Angeles City Council just this past week also approved a $15 per hour minimum wage by a vote of 13-1, which is expected to be phased in for businesses of 25 or more employees by 2020, and smaller businesses by 2021.

The benefits of a $15 minimum wage
There are obvious benefits to boosting minimum wage workers' pay to $15 per hour. The most immediate, of course, is that it puts more money in workers' pockets. The point of a $15 minimum wage is to provide enough annual income that workers can afford their basic needs such as putting a roof over their heads and food in their bellies.

Source: McDonald's via Facebook.

A higher wage can also inspire pride in a person's job and improve morale. A worker that's being financially taken care of by their employer is more liable to stick with a company over the long term, as well as be happier. A happy worker is a productive worker, and that could mean an improvement in results for employers.

Lastly, a higher wage gives currently low-income workers disposable income that they may be able to put to work. Retailers, grocers, and a number of other businesses could benefit from this sudden surge in income for minimum wage workers.

Yet, truth be told, you can change the minimum wage, but you can't change the laws of economics behind the minimum wage.

10 Outrageous Ways the Government Spends Your Tax Dollars

By Sean Williams  |  the Motley Fool  |  June 7, 2015

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article linked a $15,000 grant received by the Colorado Symphony from the National Endowment for the Arts to the symphony's 2014 "Classically Cannabis" series, which encouraged attendees to smoke marijuana before and/or during the show. This link was in error, as the funds were earmarked instead to finance a series of four symphonic concerts, as well as in-school performances, for elementary and middle school students. We regret and apologize for the error.

For years, I've opined that understanding your cash flow and maintaining a working and adjustable budget are some of the most vital keys to a comfortable retirement. Unfortunately, the biggest "business" in the world, the U.S. government, hasn't heeded that advice and continues to spend far more than it brings in from taxes every year.

After relatively small budget deficits ranging from $161 billion to $318 billion prior to the Great Recession, the need to reinvigorate the economy sent deficits soaring past the $1 trillion mark between 2009 and 2012. This year, the budget deficit is estimated to be a little below $600 billion.

Regardless of your political affiliation, some of this spending will make sense. Social programs designed to help the impoverished, retired, or assist the unemployed get work can yield great returns. But, to be honest, not all government spending winds up looking smart in retrospect -- and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) ensures that the American public knows about it.

For the past three years, I've been reporting on Wastebook, Sen. Coburn's annual project that outlines 100 of the dumbest and most outrageous ways the government spent taxpayer dollars in the previous year.

In October, Wastebook 2014 (link opens PDF) was released -- and is, according to Coburn, his final edition of the book given that health issues may soon force him to step down. What wasn't lacking was the typical candor we've come to expect when Coburn discusses the various ways lawmakers wasted your tax dollars.

Overall, Wastebook 2014 details about $25 billion in wasteful spending. Although that's a veritable drop in the bucket based on our nation's annual spending in the trillions of dollars, it nonetheless represents the need to tighten our belt as a nation and really get a grasp on our cash flow to get our deficit under control.

Though arbitrary (because these are all outrageous in their own ways), here are the 10 most outrageous ways the government spent your tax dollars in 2014.

Source: Flickr user Tangi Bertin.

1. Now there's something to "Marvel" at! According to Wastebook 2014, the Department of Defense is hard at work developing a Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or TALOS, which would be bulletproof. In reality, they're trying their hand at building a suit reminiscent of Iron Man. Unfortunately, TALOS is really in its early stages of development and will likely weigh 400 pounds when it's complete -- hardlyIron Man-like. Further, this $80 million, four-year budget could need as much as $1 billion, according to some industry analysts, just to make a workable prototype. Could you imagine the cost if these were produced on a larger scale? Ouch!

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse via Facebook.

2. A marijuana musical?In an effort to raise excitement surrounding the Colorado Symphony, the National Endowment for the Arts provided the Symphony with $15,000 to be used for it's ArtWorks Program, which includes "innovative projects" that offer insight through "unconventional solutions." One of the more unconventional solutions presented in 2014 by the Colorado Symphony was "Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series," a classical ensemble complete with none other than marijuana. Designed to attract a younger audience, symphony-goers were encouraged to smoke marijuana either before or during the show (in designated patio areas).

In its defense, the Colorado Symphony has refuted the insinuation made by Coburn and WasteBook regarding a link between the funds and the "Classically Cannabis" series. The Symphony doesn't deny receiving $15,000 from the NEA, but it says that the money was earmarked for other, more widely acceptable programs. According to Jerome Kern of the Colorado Symphony:

In 2014, the Colorado Symphony applied for and received a $15,000 grant from the federally funded National Endowment for the Arts. The grant dollars were specifically earmarked to support a series of four symphonic concerts, as well as in-school performances for elementary and middle school students, in Salida, CO. The grant covered approximately half of the Colorado Symphony's expenses for this concert series; the balance is paid through ticket revenue, sponsorship and contributions from individual donors.

Obama Takes Credit for Making U.S. 'The Most Respected Country on Earth'

By Susan Jones  |  CNSnews.com  |  June 2, 2015

"People don't remember, when I came into office, the United States in world opinion ranked below China and just barely above Russia," President Obama told a gathering of young Southeast Asian leaders on Monday.

"But today, once again, the United States is the most respected country on earth, and part of that I think is because of the work that we did to reengage the world and say that we want to work with you as partners, with mutual interest and mutual respect.

"It's on that basis that we were able to end two wars while still focusing on the very real threat of terrorism, and to try to work with our partners on the ground in places like Iraq and Afghanistan."

Republican critics, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), say President Obama's failure to leave a residual U.S. troop presence in Iraq has contributed to the ongoing disintegration of that country as well as the rise of the Islamic State.

President Obama's so-called "re-set" with Russia has resulted in the worst relations with that country since the Cold War. His antagonism toward Israel's prime minister has elevated tensions with that close ally. The leaders of Iran sneer at the Obama administration, even as the president tries to negotiate a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic. And anarchy has engulfed Libya, after President Obama ordered air strikes to topple Moammar Gaddafi. And more recently, Americans were chased out of Yemen as the security situation deteriorated.

"He says we're the most respected country in the world once again. You wonder what world, what planet, he is living on?" Charles Krauthammer told Fox News's Bill O'Reilly Monday night.

Warren Buffett’s 14 Best Tips for the Class of 2015

By Elyssa Kirkham  |  GOBankingRates  |  June 1, 2015

1. Invest in Yourself First

As a star investor, Buffett knows where to find true value, and the first place he tells students to look for it is within. “Investing in yourself is the best thing you can do — anything that improves your own talents,” Buffett said in a 2009 interview on “Good Morning America.”

Investing in yourself is one of the only investments over which you can have total control and can never lose. “If you have true talent yourself, and you have maximized your talent, you have a terrific asset,” he said.

2. Develop Integrity

At a 1998 lecture at the University of Florida School of Business, he asked the students in the audience to think of someone in their class who had the makings of success, such that the audience members would want to get 10 percent of that person’s earnings for the rest of their lives. “You would probably pick the one you responded the best to, the one who has the leadership qualities, the one who is able to get other people to carry out their interests,” said Buffett. “That would be the person who is generous, honest and who gave credit to other people for their own ideas,” — in short, the person who exhibited integrity.

3. Break Bad Habits While You’re Young

Buffett said bad habits often hold people back: “I see people with these self-destructive behavior patterns at my age or even 20 years younger, and they really are entrapped by them.”

For those who are young, however, it is still relatively easy to identify those poor qualities and work to improve them, Buffett told the students at University of Florida: “You can get rid of it a lot easier at your age than at my age, because most behaviors are habitual. The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” Everyday habits can help successful people push harder and get further than others.

The day Hillary’s team booted me off the bus: ‘The Clinton's campaign wants to control which reporters can come along for the ride. Today it was supposed to be me - but at the last minute I was shut out. That's NOT okay'

By David Martosko  |  The Daily Mail  |  June 15, 2015

Driving through New Hampshire in the rain without knowing where you're headed is an unnerving experience, but that's where I found myself this morning after Hillary Clinton's staff said I wouldn't be allowed to do my job reporting on her campaign.

At the Clinton camp's request, a group of journalists set up a traveling 'pool' so a single print reporter can be everyone's eyes and ears at events where a room is too small to fit a crush of questions from a larger group.

Plus it saves more than a dozen news organizations the expense of having to be on the campaign trail every time Clinton decides to speak.

On Monday I was the designated 'pooler,' tasked by this informal group of my colleagues with going to two events in New Hampshire.

I landed at the Manchester, N.H. airport well after midnight, thanks to a lengthy flight delay in Washington. A message was waiting for me from one of the reporters who has the thankless task of coordinating the pool with the Clinton campaign.

There was a problem: Hillary's press staff said DailyMail.com wasn't welcome, and they decided it at the last minute.

The pool was asked to send a different reporter. It was too late to substitute someone else in the Live Free or Die state at that point, so I said I'd show up anyway.

Financial Planning 101

By Dixon  |  30minuteview.blogspot.com  |  June 11, 2015

I found the website Learn Financial Planning which includes a lot of good financial data.  In particular is a section of the site which lists 101 financial tips.  

Click here to see the list.  These are items we should strive to achieve,

A Former Muslim's Grave Warning to America

By Matthew Vadum  |  American Thinker  |  June 11, 2015

Islam "has begotten a bloodthirsty ideology that is determined to destroy the principles of liberty and humanity and basic decency," ex-Muslim and activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali said June 3 at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Hirsi Ali knows what she's talking about.  Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, she was raised Muslim.  She spent her childhood and young adulthood in Africa and Saudi Arabia.  She fled as a refugee to the Netherlands in 1992, where she earned a political science degree and was elected to the Dutch House of Representatives.  After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Hirsi Ali renounced Islam.

Last week she accepted an award from the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, which prides itself on "strengthening American democratic capitalism and the institutions, principles and values that sustain and nurture it." 

Some in the conservative movement refer to the annual Bradley Prizes event, which was emceed this year by commentator George Will, as the "conservative Oscars."  The other recipients this year were James W. Ceaser, a political science professor at the University of Virginia; Larry P. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College; and retired Army Gen. Jack Keane, chairman of the Institute for the Study of War.

The late Christopher Hitchens called Hirsi Ali, whose former religion forced female circumcision on her, someone "of arresting and hypnotizing beauty," and "a charismatic figure" who writes "with quite astonishing humor and restraint."  In 2005, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

She famously said, "Islam is not a religion of peace.  It's a political theory of conquest that seeks domination by any means it can." 

Her latest book, Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now, was published in March by Harper.  (It was reviewed by Katherine Ernst in City Journal.)

"My argument is that it is foolish to insist, as our leaders habitually do, that the violent acts of radical Islamists can be divorced from the religious ideals that inspire them," she writes in Heretic.