David Keene

Editor at Large — David Keene, a trusted adviser to presidents, a longtime champion of personal liberty and one of conservatism’s most respected voices, is the former opinion editor of The Washington Times. An author, columnist and fixture on national television, Mr. Keene has championed conservative causes for more than five decades while offering advice to Republican presidents and countless candidates. He additionally served as chairman of the American Conservative Union and president of the National Rifle Association. He can be reached at me@davidakeene.com.

Columns by David Keene

Obama Regulators Manipulate Banks Illustration by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

KEENE: The devious designs of Operation Choke Point

President Obama wasn't kidding about acting on his own if Congress won't go along with his plans to "fundamentally transform" the country that elected him president. Published August 25, 2014

Government Regulation of Fossil Fuel Industry Illustration by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

KEENE: Going down in flames in the war on fossil fuels

It's been a bad year for Al Gore and his global warming buddies. Published August 18, 2014

** FILE ** President Obama speaks to the press from Chilmark, Mass., during his family vacation on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Aug. 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

KEENE: Pointing the presidential finger over Iraq

President Obama can't help himself. Even as he ordered airstrikes on the Islamic State forces in Iraq threatening to starve, shoot or behead as many as 50,000 refugees trapped on a mountaintop, he had to try to assure the world, his fellow citizens and perhaps, most importantly, himself that the mess wasn't his fault. Published August 11, 2014

Illustration on Obama, the great and powerful, by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

KEENE: A confident and clueless president

President Obama returned from his full-time job as the Democratic Party's fundraiser-in-chief to host today's U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. Published August 4, 2014

An Israeli army officer walks near the entrance of a tunnel, Friday, July 25, 2014, that is allegedly used by Palestinian militants for cross-border attacks, at the Israel-Gaza Border. A network of tunnels Palestinian militants have dug from Gaza to Israel, dubbed "lower Gaza" by the Israeli military, is taking center stage in the latest war between Hamas and Israel. (AP Photo/Jack Guez, Pool)

KEENE: Why Israel needs to destroy the tunnels

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has the support of something like 84% of his fellow citizens for his effort to destroy the dozens of tunnels Hamas has dug under Israeli territory over the last few years because every Israeli knows that they allow Hamas fighters to infiltrate their country to kidnap and kill Israeli civilians or worse. Published July 31, 2014

KEENE: The lone soldier

Earlier this week, an estimated 20,000 Israelis gathered in Haifa for the funeral of a 21-year-old from South Padre Island, Texas, who had come to Israel, joined the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and died in fierce fighting in Gaza. Published July 31, 2014

Illustration on block grants to states for social services by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

KEENE: Thinking outside nanny-state box with Paul Ryan

Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin is perhaps the smartest conservative in Congress. Unusual for a politician, the former vice presidential nominee actually spends time thinking about problems and coming up with solutions. Published July 28, 2014

Illustration on "Lone Soldiers" fighting for Israel by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

KEENE: The lone soldier

** FILE ** Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, shown here in Helena, Mont., August, 2012, says he will not run for Montana's open U.S. Senate seat in 2014. (AP Photo/Matt Gouras, File)

KEENE: An opportunity that can’t be lost

After a landslide victory in 2008, Barack Obama and his political advisors vowed to not only fundamentally change America, but to lock down their victory by fundamentally changing the politics of the American West. Published July 16, 2014

Illustration on Common Core's version of American History by Alexander Hunter/The Washington times

KEENE: Editing out an enlightened history of America

In the early days of the American Republic, Thomas Jefferson was perhaps the staunchest advocate of public education. He would be appalled at the state of public education today. Published July 14, 2014

KEENE: Sorry, soccer fans: Only baseball is red, white and blue

Bart Giamatti went from Yale University president to commissioner of Major League Baseball and considered it a far grander job. Published July 10, 2014

Illustration of Edward House's role in World War I by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

KEENE: The collapse of House’s cards

The world is still struggling to escape from the shadow of the Great War that began 100 years ago this year and produced the bloodiest century in recorded human history. Published July 7, 2014

Illustration on GOP conflicts over renewing the charter of the Export-Import Bank by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

KEENE: A cloud over the Export-Import Bank

Wall Street was not happy when House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his primary earlier this month. Published June 30, 2014

Illustration on the Obama administration's machinations to repress the speech of political opposition by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

KEENE: Free speech on the guillotine

Liberal progressives have in recent years all but abandoned the American belief in free speech and the First Amendment in favor of shutting down those with whom they disagree. Published June 23, 2014

Illustration on the new influx of children from Central America by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

KEENE: President Blameless

President Obama is so busy these days blaming anyone and everyone for the consequences of his policies that it has to be cutting into his golf game. Published June 16, 2014

PRIVACY: Liberty vs. security in post-9/11 world

While the materials Edward Snowden copied and disseminated during his stint as a National Security Agency contractor put the nation's security policies under an unprecedented microscope, many in and out of government had been worried about whether the post-9/11 security fetish was undermining basic constitutional liberties. Published June 12, 2014