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The student protesters of the 60's and 70's didn't all go to law school. Some joined the staffs of major labor unions. Soon, the unions funded by the dues of pro-American hard hats were pushing a McGovernite foreign policy abroad and political correctness at home. The hard hats lost interest. Wonder why?
Posted at 05:39 PM

REVOLTING, BUT IMPRESSIVE [Andrew Stuttaford]
"Not a burger for tree-huggers."
Posted at 05:34 PM

GROUPTHINK WATCH [Andrew Stuttaford]
From an article in the New York Times reporting the stunning fact that Republicans are "outnumbered in academia" (who knew?):

"Wet bleachers and lengthy security lines earlier in the day did little to squelch the enthusiasm of thousands waiting to attend. Sister Judith Dalesandro was among four nuns who arrived from a Roman Catholic convent in Jonesboro.

"Bill Clinton is the best president we've ever had in the United States," said Sister Dalesandro, who taught school in Little Rock when Clinton was Arkansas governor. 'He was wonderful. He wasn't at all snooty. He would come and talk with the kids."
Posted at 04:27 PM

TOMORROW & SAT. IN DC [KJL]
The JPII Center by CUA is holding a great-sounding seminar on the culture of law, which includes Cardinal Dulles and (be still my heart) Russell Hittinger (former K-Lo prof). Details here.
Posted at 04:21 PM

IN NYC & LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO TONIGHT? [KJL]
The New York Young Republicans have some things planned...see here.
Posted at 04:18 PM

SORRY [KJL]
for The Corner slowness. The Specter thing was in the air. Clinton was on TV. I went out for wine. It was time.
Posted at 04:16 PM

OH, BROTHER [KJL]
Did you e-mail Congress urging that Specter not be made chairman? This, evidently, is what CNN thinks of you.
Posted at 04:09 PM

RE: LIBRARIES [KJL]
I've gotten a few of these--they are evidently partially publicly funded, which, as this e-mailer points out, makes sense:

My admittedly rudimentary understanding of presidential libraries is that only the Archives aspect of the library is, in fact, publicly supported. For these libraries to be a legitimate destination for researchers, and any good at all, they incorporate the official government documents from the administration, and the archivests that go along with that. I don't think we would want the nation's archives doled out to a private group for whatever they might do with them.

But most of the swank you see at a presidential library is "private." Tax exempt foundations raise funds from the administrations supporters, etc., to build the halls, polish the marble, run the little TVs with videos, and so forth.

Posted at 04:06 PM

QUICK HEARINGS AND EARLY COMMITTEE VOTES [KJL]
on nominees approved by Specter. Sigh. But I think better there was a debate than there wasn't.
Posted at 03:53 PM

WILL THEY BE BASED ON SCOTTISH LAW? [KJL]
AP:

Sen. Arlen Specter, a Republican moderate seeking a key chairmanship in a party of conservatives, is drafting a written commitment of quick hearings and votes on President Bush's judicial nominees regardless of their views on abortion, party sources said Thursday.

Memo to AP Stylebook Editor: He is a liberal, not a mod.
Posted at 12:52 PM

MEMO TO SPIES AND DIPLOMATS [Cliff May]
My Scripps Howard column this week – a longer version of The Corner item I wrote a few days earlier.
Posted at 12:42 PM

MARINE IN FALLUJAH [Mackubin Thomas Owens]
I am working on something about the shooting incident in Fallujah involving a Marine. But I could never do a better job than the young Marine who sent this e-mail to his family after the incident. Killing a prisoner in cold blood is one thing. Dealing with an adversary who does not recognize “the law of land warfare” is something else. This is an unfortunate incident but it is no war crime. The e-mail:

This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one that everyone does.

This is just one most don't hear:

A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with Ak-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles. The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives.

The Marines' remains are gathered by teary eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag. But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.

This is the story everyone hears:

A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded. Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face.

The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!"

The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead.

Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for committing a war crime. Unlawful killing.

And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, i too would have done the same.

For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.

For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of you recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.

I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US military, or any other.

Posted at 12:35 PM

PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES [KJL]
Couldn't/Shouldn't they be privately funded? Especially since they get spun/built by the ex-admin?
Posted at 12:35 PM

PATRICK RUFFINI [Ramesh Ponnuru]
back from a stint at the Bush campaign, is blogging again
Posted at 12:29 PM

LAST THING ON MY MARINES [KJL]
They gave me a t-shirt--a rocking on, at that--"Pain is weakness leaving the body." Jonah's Non-Marine Military Guy is not going to like to hear that. The Marine Buying Off of K-Lo continues.
Posted at 12:26 PM

RE: MARINES [KJL]
I am also inspired to reach out more. Besides the folks among the Marines I met with this morning who asked about my Specter obsession and other inside things, there were more than a few who wanted a map to the blogosphere--we have miles to go yet! Before my colleagues and I meet Dan Rather's salary, too!!!
Posted at 12:11 PM

MARINES [KJL]
Got back a few ago from speaking to a Marine media-training seminar here in NYC. Humbling to know men and women fighting for freedom are reading us, can use our help, and are thanking us. God bless every last one of you--all branches.
Posted at 12:06 PM

THAT'S AN ANGLE [KJL]
An e-mail:

People like me, who sit at a computer all days long, love the digital version, because we can read it at work and still look as if we're doing something.

Posted at 12:03 PM

DOH! [KJL]
I misspoke--that was Washington state's first count, completed at long last (i.e. not a recount).
Posted at 11:43 AM

TAX REFORM [Ramesh Ponnuru]
I'd been hearing, even before the election, that the administration was looking at getting rid of the deduction for state and local taxes as part of its tax-reform package. I'm all for the policy: Why should low-tax states subsidize high-tax ones? Why should the federal government encourage states to have high taxes? But didn't tax reformers get their heads handed to them over this precise issue in 1985-86? Of course, there were more New York Republicans then to worry about.

The administration is also apparently looking at taxing employer-provided health insurance. Again, a good policy: that tax break has done a lot of damage to health-care markets over the years. And anyone who wants to get rid of the alternative minimum tax without swelling the deficit has to look at taxing health insurance: It's one of the few tax breaks that can generate the necessary funds. But again, there are obvious political risks here.
Posted at 11:40 AM

WHERE'S COSMO? [Jonah Goldberg]

Everyone keeps asking me if Cosmo came on the cruise. Alas, no. Cosmo is not a sea-faring beast. But it's nice so many folks care. I should probably just say, "Oh, he's on the poop deck" and walk away.

Lil Lucy on the other hand is here and once again proves to be an adept cruiser. She loves the buffet, loves the pool and has no sea sickness issues whatsoever. Her mother is a different case, alas.

Posted at 10:49 AM

AND HE DIDN'T HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMEN, EITHER [Michael Graham]
"[There's] not any example of where I ever disgraced this country publicly. I made a terrible public-personal mistake, but I paid for it, many times over. And in spite of it all, you don't have any example where I ever lied to the American people about my job, where I ever let the American people down."--Bill Clinton, yesterday.

And not to re-debate the definition of "is," but does anyone know the etymology of the phrase "public-personal mistake?" Bill Safire--a little help?
Posted at 09:09 AM

WHY WE LOVE BILL CLINTON [Michael Graham]
When it comes to Bill Clinton, some things never change. Today's Washington Post lead editorial is a reminder that the Clinton Library opening today was paid for, in part, by former-wanted-fugitive-turned-pardoned-millionaire Marc Rich.

The library cost $165 million to build, and as the WaPo notes, "we still don't know the sources of much of that money."

If you haven't read "Legacy" yet, this would be a good week to pick up a copy. The fact that President Clinton still can't (or won't) make a full disclosure of his actions while in office, and that his behavior has tainted even something as benign as a library, is the perfect memorial to his presidency.
Posted at 09:03 AM

MESA MISTAKE [Stanley Kurtz]
Here’s a remarkable ad from MESA, the Middle East Studies Association. According to this ad, MESA publications will not accept advertising “from defense and intelligence related agencies from any government.” So let’s get this straight. MESA’s members request and benefit from millions of dollars in federal subsidies under Title VI of the Higher Education Act. Higher education lobbyists have no problem telling Congress that our national security needs mandate ever higher subsidies. And Congress duly appropriates this money in an effort to stem the shortage of Arabic translators and area studies experts in our defense and intelligence agencies. Yet while taking this money on the pretext that it contributes to our national security, MESA members prohibit our defense and intelligence agencies from advertising in their publications. Then they try to pretend that they’re keeping out all defense and intelligence agencies, when it’s obviously the American government they’re trying to exclude. The public is getting taken to the cleaners by these professors. It’s time to wise up and reform Title VI.
Posted at 09:00 AM

RELIGION AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO [Stanley Kurtz]
The mail from yesterday’s posts on the University of Chicago seemed to center around the problems of the elephant and the glass. How you feel about the direction of the university depends a lot on which part of the elephant you’re touching. To libertarian leaning economists, the elephant feels pretty conservative. In many of the other social sciences, the elephant seems fairly uniformly leftist. Of course, the same is true at many universities. Then there’s the glass half full/half empty problem. One correspondent pointed to Jean Bethke Elshtain at the Divinity School as evidence that conservative scholars have a real presence at Chicago. A couple of other correspondent’s bemoaned the Divinity school as a place where actual believers are isolated and put upon by progressive skeptics. One of these pointed to Elshtain as the exception that proves the rule, arguing that she is in some respects marginalized. Here’s an interesting letter from a religious student with both an upside and a downside: “I completed an MA in social sciences at Chicago last year. If it's not enemy territory, I don't know what is. None of my friends were practicing any religion. Most were atheist or agnostic. Many were staunch followers of Saskia Sassen- in fact, she was their raison d'etre there. I can count the number of conservatives in my cohort on one hand. I think it was at a Paul Griffiths lecture that I realized something was deeply awry. A former U of C prof, now at UIC, Griffiths was speaking at the Div School on the benefit of having faith when teaching about... faith. The reaction was spectacular. As former colleagues could only spittle their disgust for this convert (he somehow found faith there and became a Catholic), he deftly handled them much as I would imagine C.S. Lewis handling atheists after a reading of Mere Christianity. There were walkouts. At the end of the year, one administrator whispered her faith to me, hoping I didn't deride her. When I told her I'm a practicing Catholic, she rejoiced, and then told me her boss always teased her about her "superstitions." I found one bright spot: the Catholic campus ministry, the Calvert House, run by Fr. Mike Yakaitis. A man with his theology doctorate, he can intellectually run with the big dogs. He's unusually (for a university) orthodox, which has won a following: he had to expand beyond his normal four masses a weekend to six this year, with an incredible freshman turnout. Not all hope is lost.”
Posted at 08:57 AM

ISRAEL KILLED ARAFAT [KJL]
Rumors ain't gonna die.
Posted at 08:35 AM

DEATH PENALTY FOR BREAKING FAST? [KJL]
From Iran
Posted at 08:30 AM

MILITARY & THE NET [KJL]
One e-mail from a major:

1. Our professional military is extremely "wired". Staff officers are beginning to make use of the internet the way guys my age made use of our canteens.

2. I'm not a big "blogger"; however, many of the younger guys – are.

3. Guys stationed "forward" may have issues with available bandwidth, cutting their ability to stay on the net. However, guys stationed on "staffs" are extremely tuned in. I spent most of 2003 in Kuwait in our Command Center.

4. Most soldiers don't understand the sensationalism inherent in media coverage in Iraq. I think most of them don't understand why it is so much easier to cover the IED explosion & injuries than the historic city council meeting in Bum F**k province! For every bad thing happening in Iraq – and there is STILL TOO MUCH OF THAT – there are dozens of "good" things going on. And these "good things" are completely lost on most Americans – thanks to the poor work of our major media. (And the institution – at least the Army – is considering at its highest levels – how "better" to communicate with the democracy which sustains us. "Embedded media" was fine during the "easy" part of the conflict – but, it is clearly not getting the job done, now.

And another, which breaks your heart in parts:

Greetings K-LO!!! I served in the Sunni Triangle from July '03 untill April '04 with the Army Guard. I always knew the media was biased in the past, but it really slaps you in the face when you witness it firsthand. Let's get this straight: 1)Saddam was evil. 2)Iraqis lived in fear and with constant torture under Saddam. 3)Millions of Iraqis are incredibly grateful to the U.S. for removing Saddam. 4)Now those millions are working their butts off, and risking their lives to build a decent, modern society. These are all widely documented facts that I personally know to be true from my own experience. And yet, since I've gotten home, I am really shocked at how many people are completely unaware of these things. (maybe it's because I live in a blue state; MN) It disgusts me how many people honestly seem to think Saddam wasn't a big deal, or that we are killing more Iraqis then Saddam ever did. Many assume that since I was "Backdoor Drafted" through the Guard that I would not be proud of my service or the things we are accomplishing. How wrong they are. Actually meeting, and working with Iraqis convinces me more then anything else that they honestly are just normal human beings who have the capacity for peaceful governance, and prosperous industry like anyone else. Iraqi families DO deeply grieve for the million-plus that were murdered, tortured, or raped under Saddam's rule. It is wrong that our media so callously ignores that grief. There is such a huge contrast between actually being among a people,many of whom are missing limbs,or are covered in whip lashes, and yet have such a look of renewed hope and passion as they line up to volunteer to work for the coalition, compared to the medias' portrayal of Iraqis as bitter, and angry with Americans for upsetting their "security under Saddam". The contrast can literally make you sick. It has been my belief since I've returned home that the media really is our true adversary in Iraq. I'll support that statement: everyone admits that the terrorists in Iraq are not a serious military force, and that they simply don't have the strength to incur even a single military defeat on our forces. The only way they can win is through a political victory. They can win political victories by either forcing Iraq into sectarian civil war (which looks more unlikely with each passing day), or by the media's constant drumbeat of defeatism, and pessimism convincing a large enough portion of the U.S. that we are failing, forcing a premature evacuation. It is clear to me that the media's influence was by far the bigger of the two threats. However, I'm elated that our recent election has proven that the media has failed to persuade a majority of Americans into defeatism. This gives me true hope for the future, both in Iraq, and in America. Now, regardless of the fact that my friends and family seem to think I've been brainwashed by the military, and am secretly a paid employee of Haliburton, I can be happy about the direction our country is headed in, and proud of my service in Iraq. (By the way, I love the fact that they think I was "brainwashed", so much so that I carry a card in my wallet that proclaims me an Official Member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy!!) Well, thanks for everything you guys are doing, and keep up the good work! You keep writing it, I'll keep reading it!!!

Posted at 08:28 AM

PEGGY NOONAN [KJL]
liked your Moneypenny line, Cliff.
Posted at 08:10 AM

I CAN TAKE A SUBTLE MESSAGE [KJL]
Peggy Noonan says "Ssssshhhhhhhh."

Peggy writes, "Conservatives have been angry with him for a long time and for good reason. They have expressed their unhappiness. They have made their point. Mr. Specter has been chastened and warned; the leadership of his party told him to fight for himself. He knows the Republican Party will expect him to support the nomination of judges free of a Roe v. Wade litmus test, or any litmus test, including a religious test. Many believe, and with reason, that a practicing Catholic isn't allowed to be a federal judge in America anymore. Mr. Specter will have to be more open-minded, more supportive, than he's been in the past. But he looks like a man who got the message, doesn't he? "

I agree, definitely, that he will probably be chairman if no further screw-ups on his part. And I take a chastened Chairman Specter as a partial victory for conservatism--but emphasis on partial. That said, conservatives, I think do have to be realistic. Specter is who he is, and the White House would be freer to be bolded, conservatively speaking, without him. That's just reality. One should not pretend otherwise. We would be better off if he were not chairman. That's reality, too, methinks.
Posted at 08:07 AM

SPEAKING OF [KJL]
Geraghty is back from Rome.
Posted at 07:27 AM

JUDE LAW PLAYING JOHN KERRY? [KJL]
I keep thinking the movie Closer must be a movie about John Kerry. Only closer Kerry Spot reader will find that lamely funny. Jim Geraghty is reading this in a LOL fit.
Posted at 07:27 AM

NO-FAST-FORWARD BILL [KJL]
This seems insane, and you can blame ARLEN SPECTER. (I'm not obssessed. I'm not.)
Posted at 07:22 AM

"I LOVE MY DOG/ HIS PADDED PAWS/ AT CHRISTMAS HE'S MY/ SANTA CLAUS." [KJL]
It's our Poet Laurete! Where's Derb when you need him? OH, on the NR Cruise. (You can still sign up for the next one--conservatives invade Europe!!)
Posted at 07:21 AM

GET PICKED FOR SECSTATE... [KJL]
...have people talk about your uterus.
Posted at 07:15 AM

AFTER I SUBSCRIBE TO NR [KJL]
where should I put my money?
Posted at 07:12 AM

SO MY PLAN [KJL]
was to earn a killer Christmas bonus in subscription solds while others were on the NR cruise this week--that NRO longtime faithful would overwhelm us with signing up for the print magazine while everyone was on the cruise that I would wipe the floor with any money made on the cruise. Yeah, right. Not really there yet. (Though THANK YOU to those who have signed up in recent days!) Anyone want to help K-Lo here?

I'm kidding about the bonus and commission stuff--you have heard by now we're not a profit-making engine here, we're a cause, we've got a mission. And integral to that mission is brining you round the clock commentary (ok, a little slower this week!) on NRO, which NR has invested in, with wisdom, but not without sacrifices--financial and otherwise. Subscribing to the print edition--a completely different product, I should remind you, very little overlap is a way for you to financially support the whole NR enterprise, and get something in return--fortnightly, in your snail-mail box. (Sign up here.) And, of course, if you can't fit another bloody thing into your snail-mailbox, there's NR Digital, the no-trees-killed version of the print magazine. You are missing regular visits from MArk Steyn, Rob Long, Rick Brookhiser, John Derbyshire, and many more, if you are not a subscriber.
Posted at 06:52 AM

P.O.Y. PONDERING [Tim Graham]
Reuters is acting as Time's publicity agent on the Person of the Year selection process, noting in a story that their POY-picking panel includes "Time commentator Andrew Sullivan, NBC News anchor Brian Williams, activist Rev. Al Sharpton, Alessandra Stanley, television critic for The New York Times, and FBI agent Coleen Rowley, one of the 2002 Persons of the Year." Most of those are yes, Kerry-loving media liberals (this year including Sullivan), but...Al Sharpton? How on Earth does everyone have to include this guy in their little plans? Is he really an objective journalist at heart? No. He's still a Tawana-fraud-pushing, violence-urging, racial-ambulance-chasing embarrassment. Time should try a more reputable POY judge -- Anna Nicole Smith, or the host of "Fear Factor," or someone responsible for messing up the flu vaccine.

But the most amazing sentence in the Reuters story is this one, summarizing potential POYs Mel Gibson and Michael Moore: "Gibson was proposed for directing 'The Passion of the Christ,' a controversial film seen by many as anti-Semitic. Moore made 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' a film highly critical of the Bush administration which was a huge box office hit."

The real spit take in this sentence is that "Passion" was three times as huge as "Fahrenheit." So it really could be turned around this way: "Moore was proposed for making 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' a controversial film seen by many as anti-American. Gibson made 'The Passion of the Christ,' a film highly critical of the human sinner, which was a huge box office hit."
Posted at 06:34 AM

DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER [KJL]
Powerline is defending that NBC reporter who started the Marine business (who is being condemned in the blogosphere). I haven't had a chance to read it all but looks worth reading and clicking.
Posted at 06:32 AM

261 VOTES [KJL]
The Washington governor's race has been recounted and the Republican won by a whole 261 votes.
Posted at 06:24 AM

RE: SALVATION ARMY [KJL]
I know Jay Nordlinger had a bad experience here in NYC, but I've been impressed with the Salvation Army--on the ground within minutes on 9/11 at what would become known as "Ground Zero," and providing comfort to folks elsewhere who would be stranded wherever their plane was grounded to, among other things. (I wrote about it some here.) They've been called "The Most Effective Irganization in the U.S." and, well, I don't find the bells annoying. Actually, more like the sound puts the whole Christmas thing in better perspective as you are being pushed while you're all fighting for the last Limbo Elmo. (I know, so last season, right? I like Elmo, leave it alone.)
Posted at 06:17 AM

TARGET & BEST BUY [KJL]
ban the Salvation Army's red kettles.
Posted at 06:07 AM

CATHOLIC POL REPORT [KJL]
is here. Gave the wrong link last night. Mea culpa.
Posted at 05:50 AM

NRO TV TODAY [KJL]
John J. Miller is scheduled to appear on the 700 Club today, airing at 10:00 am and repeating at 11:00 pm on the ABC Family channel. He's going to let you know what he really thinks about France. He has a book out on the topic, you might have heard...
Posted at 05:44 AM

I HOPE YOU ARE SITTING [KJL]
Breaking news: "Republicans Are Outnumbered in Academia"
Posted at 05:41 AM

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

BISHOPS UPDATE [KJL]
They did wind up releasing the Catholic pol report before the close of the meeting today.
Posted at 07:50 PM

"SOMEBODY PLAYING POSSUM JUMPED UP AND SHOT HIM" [KJL]
Belmot CLub puts the Marine incident in perspective.
Posted at 07:48 PM

ISN’T IT CURIOUS? [Cliff May]
The MSM is going on and on about President Bush filling his Cabinet with people who “agree with him” – that is to say people who share his vision and are eager to implement his agenda.

Instead, they say, he should be hiring people who disagree with him, people with different visions and other agendas.

This is particularly curious coming from the MSM (“mainstream media” for those who don’t speak blogian). Why? Because the publishers and seniors editors of the complaining publications -- do they hire people who disagree with them? Do they hire conservatives and evangelicals and other such characters as editors and reporters?

No, of course they don’t. And they never would. Not for all the chardonnay in France.
Posted at 06:47 PM

GOOD QUESTION [KJL]
"When Jon Kyl, Jeff Sessions or John Cornyn would make a great chairman, why in the world would Republicans take the great risk of trusting Specter?"
Posted at 06:42 PM

CORNYN ON SPECTER [KJL]
Reuters:

"We need some sort of public confirmation of Senator Specter's positions," said Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican and a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Posted at 06:40 PM

"DON'T KNOW MUCH...BUT I KNOW I HATE YOU," RONDSTADT SINGS... [KJL]
Singer Ronstadt says of Bush's reelection: "It’s like Germany, before Hitler took over. The economy was bad and people felt kicked around. They looked for a scapegoat. Now we’ve got a new bunch of Hitlers.”
Posted at 06:14 PM

PBS NOT PC ENOUGH! [Mark Krikorian ]
"There are no Asian/Pacific Islander Americans among the 64 key American innovators in the book, 'They Made America,' by Harold Evans, the basis of the PBS documentary of the same name."
Posted at 05:56 PM

THE INVISIBLE HAND [Mark Krikorian ]
The Wall Street Journal has a story today on a new report that finds that the tight labor market for nurses has eased because of a higher pay drawing more people into the occupation. Now how do you think that would have worked out if the president's proposed guestworker program had been up and running? He has called for opening every occupation in every part of the country to an unlimited number of foreign workers willing to work at any wage. Would nurses' pay have gone up or down? Would hospitals be giving nurses more flexibility in setting their schedules or less? Hospitals know the answer, which is why they are perennially at the forefront of efforts to increase the number of nurses imported from the Third World. As Adam Smith said, "People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices."
Posted at 05:53 PM

LIVERWURST [Mark Krikorian ]
So I write a posting about how immigration policymaking is dishonest, opaque, and self-interested -- and what's the reaction? A spirited defense of liverwurst! OK, I take it back; immigration policymaking is like head cheese.
Posted at 05:51 PM

MILITARY QUESTION [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
This is to a select group--those who have served abroad in this war and who have found the blogosphere (NRO in particular, because I am self-interested) useful, or not. Just curious for feedback. Am speaking to a group of Marines tomorrow morning re: alternative media and am wondering any pointers you have for the military making use of NRO & the world wide web more, and why you think it is valuable to do so. And how frustrating (or not) MSM coverage is. Anything specific you'd want the media-focused in your branch of the service thinking about? Families of soldier abroad may have ideas of their own too.

Thanks in advance.
Posted at 05:36 PM

STUD W! [KJL]



Posted at 04:36 PM

TOM WOLFE'S NOVEL [Rod Dreher]
Today is a big day around my house: my wife will finally finish "I Am Charlotte Simmons," the new Tom Wolfe novel, which means I'll get my hands on it. Julie loves the book, and says she's amazed that Wolfe, in his seventies, got the reality of college life down so accurately. She's seven years out of college, and says the book rings true to her. Moreover, she says that she understands why The New York Times and other MSM outlets have negged the book. She told me last night, "Tom Wolfe rejects the sexual revolution, and his protagonist is a good girl with traditional morals. When she compromises on her standards, she takes it hard. I bet this worldview is inconceivable for the kind of people who write reviews for The New York Times, but it makes perfect sense to readers like me."
Posted at 04:23 PM

ANOTHER CHICAGO [Stanley Kurtz]
Now here’s that letter from the parent of a University of Chicago student: "It is, indeed, a tragedy to see Chicago lose its distinctiveness, which made it unique among American research universities -- and my son is seeing the loss in slow-motion over his undergraduate years. There are still some older faculty around to teach the Core; for example, my son is enjoying the outstanding teaching of Karl Weintraub's wife Katy in the History of Western Civilization sequence. But the administration is slowly gutting (ever more so) the Core, and the newer faculty generally do not support the Core. Even worse, the administration admittedly seeks to make Chicago just like another Ivy League university, which requires obeisance to the liberal shibboleths that rule the Ivies. So, the O-Week activities include mandatory sessions on "diversity" (with all the usual victim classes) and sexuality -- which made my son's service as an Orientation Aide this fall a bit tricky as he tried to steer away from having to lead any of those sessions.

My son still loves the U of C, and for the most part I agree that his education is better than he would get most other places. Still, conservative students should view Chicago in the same category as the Ivies or Stanford -- which means, plan on spending four years behind enemy lines!"
Posted at 04:21 PM

MORE CHICAGO [Stanley Kurtz]
I’ll post sections of another letter from the parent of a University of Chicago student. Some of the letters I’m getting emphasize that there are fairly large numbers of conservative students at Chicago, and thus great discussion and generally fair treatment–at least from fellow students. No doubt that’s true. But it seems to me that Chicago is running on (and running down) the “cultural capital” of its long reputation for balance. The key to the long term character of the university is the administration and faculty. Once these tilt decisively to the left, the conditions for educational quality and fairness are undermined. For a time, the U. of Chicago will get by as a place that attracts a large number of conservative students, just because it always had a reputation for fairness on that score. But soon things will slip, as they already clearly have. Exactly when the tipping point is reached no doubt depends on what subjects you study. If you are interested in becoming a scholar of the Middle East, you’re out of luck. Ditto for many other subjects in the social sciences and humanities. And the real problem is that in many subject areas, there is nowhere else to go. Chicago was always disproportionately important to conservatives because they were so unwelcome elsewhere. So to lose Chicago is to lose much more than one school.
Posted at 04:16 PM

CHICAGO [Stanley Kurtz]
Here’s a sad but revealing e-mail from a parent about what’s happened to the University of Chicago, once the only reliable refuge for conservatives among the great universities: “Your take on university of Chicago is spot on. My eldest daughter had them at the top of her list, of course, and was attending interviews, visits to campus, etc. She loved it and was very excited until she began to attend many of the orientation sessions. Victimhood, political correctness, and the gender politics were overwhelming. She was disappointed, of course, and confided that she was not interested in attending a place where those concerns were a part of daily life. She had assumed there would be disapproval from friends and family that had attended Chicago in the past, but was relieved that we were supportive of her choice.

She still plans to attend their graduate school in couple of years, but, in my not so humble opinion, the University lost a wonderful undergraduate due to the erosion of independent thought and political correctness.”
Posted at 04:12 PM

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY [Andrew Stuttaford]

Finally, a use for Elliot Spitzer:

"The European Union's financial watchdog refused to sign off the Brussels budget yesterday for the tenth year in a row, finding that 93.4 per cent of spending was either unsafe or riddled with errors."

Over you go, Elliot.

Posted at 04:07 PM

WHEN MORE IS LESS [Andrew Stuttaford]

From the EU Observer:

"The EU has agreed to revise the way it deals with Cuba's dissidents in order to develop political dialogue with Fidel Castro's government.... Diplomats said on Tuesday that they would continue to engage with Cuba's opposition but were looking to do so in a more productive way, leaving the path open for talks with government officials."

"More productive" eh? We'll see.
Posted at 04:04 PM

NRO TV [John J. Miller]
John J. Miller is scheduled to appear on John Gibson's Fox News show today at about 5:50 pm EST -- the topic is Jacques Chirac and Miller's book Our Oldest Enemy: A History of America's Disastrous Relationship with France.
Posted at 03:54 PM

PERSON THE YEAR [Jonah Goldberg]
Time has no credibility. None. I don't care who they pick. That doesn't mean they won't get it right but that hardly means we should care much if they do. The magazine which had the guts to pick dictators and tyrants when they deserved it has, in recent years, gone the rout of People magazine. Even when they go in a controversial direction, it's invariably controversial in way designed to be not-too-controversial. "Now, Twice the Controversy But Half the Calories!" What was it a few years ago? Whistleblower women? And in 2001 when it deserved to be Osama Bin Laden, they went with Rudy Giulliani. How nice! I don't bash corporations much, but this seems to be one of those conventions that gets approved by a committee of suits before it goes anywhere.
Posted at 03:40 PM

CANADA... WITH A BULLET [Jonah Goldberg]

I haven't checked this guy's stats -- because I'm on a cruise for pete's sake -- but some interesting tidbits:

Jonah,

I hope you are enjoying the cruise. Apropos of nothing, I was stunned to learn that the crime rate in Canada is much higher than that of the US (guess I have been brain washed by the Canada is Utopia crowd). For the year 2003, per 100,000 population, Canada had 8,530 crimes, and the U.S. 4,267. For crimes of violence, 958 vs. 523. For property crimes, 4,275 vs. 3,744. Maybe this is common knowledge, but it is counter to everything I have heard or been lead to believe. I learned this, from all places, on Roger Ebert's web site. (via an unrelated link from Sullivan). You might want to bring this to the attention of all those "United States of Canada" folks. If you add in the crime rate from the blue states, e.g. New York City, Detroit and LA, Jesusland might be more popular that Lawrence O'Donnell thinks! Enjoy the rest of your trip.

Posted at 03:30 PM

BY THE WAY... [Jonah Goldberg]
Several readers have bcc'd me on emails to the NYT petitioning the Times to replace Safire with me. I do not authorize such actions -- but nor do I condemn them.
Posted at 03:21 PM

YES, YES... [Jonah Goldberg]

It's true, I have revealed myself in ... cheese. [Scroll down if you find this cryptic beyond words].

I've also had a fine time so far. Just got back from lunch with the Ponnurus.

Posted at 03:17 PM

SWIFTIES [John J. Miller]
K Lo: I'm definitely not predicting that the Swifties will make the cover of Time as "Men of the Year"--I'm saying that probably would be my choice.
Posted at 01:17 PM

OH BROTHER [KJL]
This is Arlen Specter doing Rick Santorum no favors:

“Sen. Santorum has been enormously helpful,” said Specter Tuesday. “He’s gone above and beyond the call of duty. My number one priority in the next two years is to reelect Sen. Santorum.”

Posted at 01:03 PM

RUSH'S TOPIC TODAY [Tim Graham]
Cartoonist Pat Oliphant has definitely crossed a line in his latest cartoon portraying Condi Rice as a very subservient large-lipped bird. Will the liberal papers run it?
Posted at 12:54 PM

OY [KJL]
Watching the Bishops' Conference on EWTN (the Catholic channel). The buzz about the meeting this November, from where I am sitting, was their expected report on pro-choice Catholic pols, what to do about them. Yeah, not happening. In the interest of time, they're not issuing anything this meeting, but a statement, which hearing it read on EWTN by EWTN's newsman Raymond Arroyo, sounded really lame--like it could have provided aid and comfort to a John Kerry lame. Which, of course, is more than simply lame. (I don't see a link up yet.)
Posted at 12:42 PM

YEAH, SO GLAD I'M PAYING FOR THAT [KJL]
: From the Chronicle of Higher Education

Only about 11 percent of full-time students say they spend more than 25 hours per week preparing for their classes -- the amount of time that faculty members say is necessary to succeed in college. Forty-four percent spend 10 hours or less studying.

Yet students' grades do not suggest that they are unprepared for their academic work: About 40 percent of students say they earn mostly A's, with 41 percent reporting that they earn mostly B's.

Posted at 12:35 PM

THE PRIEST & THE CANTOR [KJL]
An Andover, Mass. priest asks a pro-choice pol to step down as parish lector. Said pol told the Boston Globe: ''I'm trying to be a good Catholic...this should be a separate issue. Church should be a sanctuary for me and my faith and not have anything to do with my work."
Posted at 12:30 PM

IS JOHN KERRY [KJL]
taking back his concession?
Posted at 12:23 PM

SWIFTVETS? [KJL]
Think again, John J. Actually, if I had to bet my money on this one, I'd put it on Michael Moore. Here's how one loyal, tested reader: "Choking down the bile as I type it, but I would nominate Michael Moore. Who else galvanized both sides of the aisle as effectively?"
Posted at 12:09 PM

BAD SIGNS [John J. Miller]
From the Los Angeles Times:

"Spellings' impending appointment was hailed by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who worked closely with her and the White House in crafting No Child Left Behind. 'Margaret Spellings is a capable, principled leader who has the ear of the president and has earned strong bipartisan respect in Congress. I look forward to working with her to strengthen our public schools,' Kennedy said. ... Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Assn., a 2.7- million-member teachers union, said Spellings' nomination was 'a great opportunity for the administration to change the tone of its discourse with the education community.'"
Posted at 12:03 PM

CHICAGO [Stanley Kurtz]
Here’s a sad but revealing e-mail from a parent about what’s happened to the University of Chicago, once the only reliable refuge for conservatives among the great universities: “Your take on university of Chicago is spot on. My eldest daughter had them at the top of her list, of course, and was attending interviews, visits to campus, etc. She loved it and was very excited until she began to attend many of the orientation sessions. Victimhood, political correctness, and the gender politics were overwhelming. She was disappointed, of course, and confided that she was not interested in attending a place where those concerns were a part of daily life. She had assumed there would be disapproval from friends and family that had attended Chicago in the past, but was relieved that we were supportive of her choice. She still plans to attend their graduate school in couple of years, but, in my not so humble opinion, the University lost a wonderful undergraduate due to the erosion of independent thought and political correctness.”
Posted at 12:03 PM

GREEN FOG [KJL]
An e-mail:

I am distraught. I went to [a military hospital last] evening to drop off some DVDs for a young Marine [I know]. Anyway on my way around the [hospital], I found myself trapped behind a huge Red Cross van. All of a sudden, two soldiers appeared and opened the doors. I could see that there were some of our wounded in there- clearly new arrivals. The staff lifted them onto the moveable hospital beds (many of the guys had machines attached to them) and wheeled them into the main building.

So many things passed through my mind during those minutes- first [God] Bless every one of them. And then, thank [God] for them. And then--deep deep anger. I thought of the current NBC story about the Marine who (maybe) shot a wounded Iraq insurgent. K we cannot allow them to do this to our boys. This will not be Vietnam.

There is no evidence outside of the reporter's statement that what he claims happened actually...happened. The video doesn't show the Marine shooting anyone. It definitely suggests it, but that is not evidence- that's a suggestion. The most damning thing in my opinion is that insurgents have been putting booby traps in dead bodies... They fake surrender and then open fire. My [close relative] is being taught (quite rightly): 'anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. ammo is cheap.' I like that--someone tries to kill you--you get him first- he's not quite finished- take care of it. I mean, the guy was not selling girl scout cookies he was a friggin terrorist in Fallujah! He could have been one of those savages dancing on the burned wreckage of the Blackwater vehicles in April. He could have been running one of the torture chambers. He's a BAD GUY!

Are we as a nation prepared to say that the life of an insurgent (I prefer the term terrorist) is equivalent to the life of a US Marine? I'm not--and not just because [a close relative] wears green. This makes me absolutely sick. Our guys deserve better from us. We owe i to them to speak up and speak loudly. We love you. We are proud of you. Thank you for everything you do.

And, when I asked Jed Babbin about the Marine incident yesterday, he wrote back:

The idea that the shooting may have been wrongful is justified by the film. But I'm sure that it doesn't portray accurately the room-to-room fighting that was going on. Every time the Marines find someone alive they find someone who may be wired with a bomb and still able to detonate it. I recall Richard Tregaskis, in Guadalcanal Diary, quoting one Lt. Harold H. Babbin, USMC -- my dad -- briefing his platoon on the eve of the invasion:

"You might see a Jap sniper hanging from the top of a tree, lookin' dead," the lieutenant continued, "because they tie themselves in with ropes. He might be playing possum. So don't hesitate to throw another .30 [caliber bullet] up there and bounce him off the tree again. That's good stuff."

In combat, especially against people whose usual practice it is to violate the law of war, a Marine has to kill the other guy before he gets a chance to kill the jarhead or the Marine standing next to him. The rule is do unto others before they do it unto you.

I don’t know what happened in that one incident, and wrongdoing obviously needs to be punished, but am I wrong to want to give these guys volunteering to keep us safe and free others the benefit of the doubt when they are being shot at, with their lives on the line?
Posted at 12:00 PM

P.O.Y. [John J. Miller]
Here's a list of Time's "Person of the Year" since 1927. The editors picked Bush in 2000, so I doubt they'll choose him again this time. Bloggers would be interesting, but they've made some computer and Internet picks in recent years (Andy Grove, Jeff Bezos) so I think they might avoid something similar now. I suspect they will inevitably choose gays and lesbians one of these years, and this one would be as good as any. If it were up to me, I'd think about selecting John O'Neill and the Swift Boat Vets.
Posted at 11:51 AM

HMMM [KJL]
A reader:

Time's Man of the Year? Oughta be bloggers.

Posted at 11:32 AM

AND DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT [KJL]
Harry Reid, yesterday:

"We all miss, more than we can describe, Senator Daschle," Reid said. "But Tom Daschle is not here. We're going to proceed forward."

Posted at 11:28 AM

IRAN [Stanley Kurtz]
Today’s biggest story may be a piece by Douglas Jehl buried in today’s New York Times. The same group of dissidents who exposed Iran’s once hidden nuclear program now say that Iran has yet another secret facility at which they are trying to produce nuclear weapons, even as they deny their nuclear ambitions and promise to freeze their current program. The group is apparently giving chapter and verse on the location of Iran’s secret facility. If this pans out, it not only torpedoes the agreement currently being negotiated by the Europeans, it shows that no agreement is reliable. There is no good solution to the nuclear mess in Iran and Korea. This is truly the crisis that threatens our lives and our nation. The president is going to have his hands full with this one.
Posted at 11:25 AM

IDEOLOGY [John J. Miller]
It's perhaps worth remembering that one of Russell Kirk's favorite sayings was a phrase of H. Stuart Hughes: "Conservatism is the negation of ideology."
Posted at 11:19 AM

MARGARET SPELLINGS IS THE NEW ED SEC PICK [KJL]
which is bad news for many coaches.
Posted at 11:12 AM

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE NEWS [KJL]
Senate Republicans just elected Senator Dole to replace Senator Allen at the NRSC. She defeated Senator Norm Coleman of MN. Vote was close--28-27.
Posted at 11:06 AM

"IDEOLOGUES" [Rich Lowry]
Greetings from the NR cruise! Here is a thought from the ship's internet cafe. I don't mind the word "ideologue," but in our foreign policy debate it is used in such a tendentious way. Consider this from the NYTimes today, about the cabinet shakeup: "`This could actually turn out not so well for the ideologues,' said one administration official, referring to the staff members in the vice president's office and the Pentagon who are openly skeptical of the idea of negotiating solutions to the crises over Iran's and North Korea's nuclear programs." But aren't the people who believe in a certain kind of negotiated solution--despite our experience with the last, failed negotiated deal with North Korea--just as "ideological," maybe more so, than the administration's hawks? If we're going to throw the word around, let's say that the shakeup "could turn out not so well for one set of ideologues in the administration and better for another set of ideologues."
Posted at 10:45 AM

IT'S ALL ABOUT JONAH [KJL]
Hugh Hewitt is campaigning for him to replace Safire. (An idea floated here earlier.)
Posted at 10:10 AM

JONAH'S NOT ON THE CRUISE, DON'T BELIEVE HIM [KJL]
He's all cheese.
Posted at 10:07 AM

WHITHER CHICAGO? [Stanley Kurtz]
Last year, I went to the University of Chicago and debated HR 3077, the bill that would reform federal funding for area studies. Several of the students I met after that panel were in despair about the absence of professors of Middle Eastern studies at Chicago who could balance the overwhelming number of faculty critics of America and Israel. It is shameful that students at the University of Chicago need to import professors like Berkowitz to defend Israel, while critics of American and Israeli policies can easily be found on the Chicago faculty. The Berkowitz-Sassen episode can’t help but raise the question: What has happened to the University of Chicago? Two years ago, I wrote about the gutting of Chicago’s famous Western Civilization program. Things seem to have gone downhill from there. Chicago used to be the only truly great American university where conservative students could get a fair shake. Those days seem a long way off. Slowly but surely, the University of Chicago is transforming into just another leftist dominated university. Perhaps the intellectual monopoly is not quite as total as elsewhere. But the signs are frightening. Of course, any fine faculty will have its share of leftist professors–and rightly so. But why must the other side be shut out? Perhaps if we had more intellectual diversity–the only sort of diversity that should count on a college campus–professors would not confuse mere disagreement with inadmissable bias. The real victims here are the students, deprived of exposure to intelligent representatives of different perspectives, and intimidated into withholding their own views for fear of losing faculty recommendations. Conservative students and parents take note: The University of Chicago is not what it used to be–not by a longshot. And let the University of Chicago administration take note as well. Is there no room for a thoughtful and intelligent supporter of America’s Middle Eastern policies, or of Israel, on your Middle East studies faculty? Is academic merit so unevenly distributed throughout the population that it falls to leftists alone?
Posted at 10:01 AM

NOT BERKOWITZ! [Stanley Kurtz]
This powerful letter of protest by Peter Berkowitz tells the tale of a remarkable incident at the University of Chicago. (Hat tip to Glenn Reynolds.) Apparently, University of Chcago sociology professor Saskia Sassen stormed out of a panel discussion on the Middle East after discovering that Berkowitz and another invited speaker disagreed with her views. Two of the panelists at the event were critical of Israel, while two defended it. This arrangement appears to have struck Sassen as impermissibly biased. “We need to recognize that the Israeli state has operated with excess power in a situation of extreme asymmetry,” said Sassen, justifying her walkout. In other words, acknowledge Israel’s guilt or forfeit your right to participate in scholarly debate. Although she makes a show of caring about freedom, Sassen has no trouble decrying the “scandalous” differences between American democracy and Cuban communism. Sassen’s behavior at the panel shows just how little regard the academic left has for the free exchange of ideas. Her more conservative opponent, Berkowitz, on the other hand, has just edited two marvelous volumes on American conservatism and liberalism.
Posted at 09:58 AM

GREETINGS LANDLUBBERS [Jonah Goldberg]
I made it. The Fair Jessica, Lil' Lucy and I arrived in St. Thomas yesterday and we're in Tortola now. Huge turnout on this cruise -- over four hundred NR fans, followers and friends. Not much to report yet. Lowry seems a bit deep in the grog and Lucy thinks we live at sea now. Will report in when I can, but there's a pina colada with my name on it.
Posted at 09:29 AM

"MIND YOUR WORDS" [KJL]
The message Senate Republicans sent Specter, according to the Philly Inq.
Posted at 09:27 AM

KIRSANOW IN OHIO [KJL]
Frequent NRO writer Peter Kirsanow (and Civil Rights Commission member) will be speaking on "Racial Rebellion: The End of the Victim/Grievance Movement" tomorrow ,Thursday Nov. 18, at noon at the Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs in Ashland, Ohio. In you are nowhere near there, though, CSPAN will be showing at some point.
Posted at 09:23 AM

WHAT A BEAUT! [Jack Fowler]
The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories is a thing of true beauty. Inside are ten wonderful adventure stories -- wholesome stories that teach clear morals! -- of the doings of Reddy Fox, Jimmy Skunk, Buster Bear, and many other colorful denizens of Thornton Burgess's glorious Green Meadows, Green Forest, and Laughing Brook (if you're of a certain age, you'll well remember how these delightful stories made your youth all the merrier). And throughout the 360 pages of this sweet hardcover are some 60 charming illustrations by the great Harrison Cady. Perfect for new and beginning readers (first through third grades) and ditto for littler ones who cherish being read a warm tale as they're tucked in for the nightly trip to Nod, The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories makes a super Christmas gift. We have a few special offers available when you buy this book, which can be done safely, securely, and swiftly here.
Posted at 09:11 AM

A RIDGE FAR ENOUGH [John J. Miller]
Homeland security secretary quitting, says CNN.
Posted at 08:52 AM

BUSINESS AS USUAL [Mark Krikorian ]
The Congress is now considering an arcane proposal (to exempt certain foreign graduate students from the numerical limits in H-1B work-visa program) that exemplifies much of what's wrong with our immigration system:

Dishonesty. The program has a limit of 65,000 visas per year except that the cap is "pierceable," in that any foreign worker indentured to a university or the government isn’t counted toward the cap, and the immigration service won't say how many visas were issued outside the cap. The provision now under consideration would expand the dishonesty by exempting even more visas from the "cap."

Secrecy. Members of Congress know that very vocal elements of the public hate this kind of thing, and have succeeded in killing it before. So, instead of having a debate and vote on the merits, Ted Kennedy and Saxby Chambliss are trying to sneak it into the omnibus spending bill that Congress has to pass to keep the government open.

Subsidy. Some of the biggest boosters of this measure are universities, for whose graduate departments it would represent a significant financial windfall. One of the main reason that few American students pursue PhDs in many technical fields is that graduate study often serves no useful purpose and in fact can result in a big loss in lifetime earnings. But foreigners would get paid in a different coin -- access to the U.S. -- and so are willing to fill redundant graduate programs that otherwise, without this federal subsidy, might be discontinued. And the subsidy continues, because universities not only get more paying graduate students but they are then able to use these students to get more federal research grants.

I know that legislating is like sausage-making, but there's sausage and then there's sausage. I like salami; immigration-policy shenanigans are liverwurst.
Posted at 08:32 AM

WHERE ARE THE SWOONS? [Tim Graham]
As a colleague suspected yesterday, since Madeleine Albright was the first female Secretary of State and Colin Powell was the first black man, Condi Rice will not get the usual media swoon for being the first black woman as Secretary of State (or even the first black woman to hold a cabinet post that weighty.) It's nowhere on the front of the Washington Post today. That would not be the case if Rice was serving a Clinton. On the other hand, that's nice, since she is not being appointed for that reason. But it ought to be interesting to see just how much less gooey reporters are than they were over the selection of Madeleine Albright in Clinton's second term. The most recent boomlet of pro-Madeleine bias is captured here.
Posted at 07:44 AM

THE BRUTAL FRONTLINE [Andrew Stuttaford]

What, I wonder, will Al-Jazeera have to say about this? From the London Times:

"In the south of Fallujah yesterday, US Marines found the armless, legless body of a blonde woman, her throat slashed and her entrails cut out. Benjamin Finnell, a hospital apprentice with the US Navy Corps, said that she had been dead for a while, but at that location for only a day or two. The woman was wearing a blue dress; her face had been disfigured. It was unclear if the remains were the body of the Irish-born aid worker Margaret Hassan, 59, or of Teresa Borcz, 54, a Pole abducted two weeks ago. Both were married to Iraqis and held Iraqi citizenship; both were kidnapped in Baghdad last month. US and Iraqi troops have discovered kidnappers’ lairs filled with corpses or emaciated prisoners half-mad with fear, and piles of bodies of men who had refused to fight with the insurgents. As the guerrillas run their last sprint from death, sympathy for their cause is running out among Iraqis."

Posted at 07:37 AM

DESPERATE MONDAY [KJL]
This Monday Night Football stunt just sounds stupid. It's not like they needed the publicity for the show.
Posted at 07:31 AM

"SURE FEELS LIKE LOVE" [KJL]
Wouldn't Stud Duck Larry Gatlin be happy knowing NRO is ocassionally edited to the tune of his hits?
Posted at 07:25 AM

RE: REED IRVINE [Tim Graham]
The entire conservative movement owes Reed Irvine and Accuracy in Media a debt of gratitude for starting the business of professional media watchdogging in the Nixon era. When I first became a young Reaganite in the summer of 1980, I would to walk a few blocks to our small-town library to read Human Events, and there was Reed in its pages, on the case against "60 Minutes" or the New York Times. (Reed also authored or co-authored a set of books compiling AIM's media research, starting with "Media Mischief and Misdeeds" in 1984, to expose and correct liberal bias.) He taught many of us how to read the press with a critical eye. I know Brent Bozell agrees that there would be no Media Research Center without Reed Irvine. May he rest in peace, having run a good race for the good of the country he loved.
Posted at 06:36 AM

TO RULE THE WAVES [John J. Miller]
This weekend, C-SPAN's Book TV will broadcast a talk by my friend Arthur Herman, author of To Rule the Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World. I'm pretty sure this will be from the presentation he gave (and which I attended) at a D.C. bookstore last week. It hardly matters: Arthur is brilliant and eloquent and To Rule the Waves is very, very good. It's partly a military history of the Royal Navy, but it's also the story of how British admirals and sailors became a powerful force for globalization, and how their influence is still being felt today. NRODT readers will know Arthur for his book reviews--and they'll also know that our current issue includes a big thumbs-up review of To Rule the Waves. I recommend it highly.
Posted at 06:33 AM

TIME'S MAN OF THE YEAR [KJL]
Karl Rove?
Posted at 06:12 AM

MEDIA CRITIC REED IRVINE DIED. [KJL]
RIP
Posted at 06:02 AM

POWELL FOR SENATE? [John J. Miller]
New York Republicans are urging Colin Powell to run for the Senate -- against Hillary in 2006, according to the New York Sun.
Posted at 05:54 AM

TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THE CORNER: JUST CAME ACROSS THIS NOV. 3 E-MAIL [KJL]

I'd never laid a mouse click on The Corner before last night, but it, and your posts in particular, got me through the night. I've been an internet addict for years clicking through its its highways and byways and bookmarking my favorite rest stops. Discovering The Corner last night was like coming over the horizon and discovering my destination.

I know that's melodramatic, but that's my mood today.

Posted at 05:33 AM

CHAIRMAN ARLEN [John J. Miller]
The Washington Post says he's got the Judiciary Committee all but locked up. There's nothing in the story about hugs for Specter, but the article does quote Hatch: "Nobody in the meeting was against Arlen. ... Senator Specter handled himself very well. ... I'm for him, as I should be." Reminds me of an old saying: Don't count your Hatch before he's chickened.
Posted at 05:16 AM

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

DID HE NEED ONE OF THOSE INTERN MAPS? [KJL]
John Kerry went back to the Hill today.
Posted at 11:57 PM

AN UPDATE ON THE 2004 ELECTIONS [John Hood]
Believe it or not, the race for governor in Washington state is still undecided. Democrat Christine Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi have traded the lead four times since Election Day as election officials keep adding in tens of thousands of absentee and provisional ballots at a pop. There are nearly 22,000 ballots yet to count, including some 10,000 more ballots in King County than local officials had estimated just a couple of days ago. This "find" was good news for Gregoire, who trails Rossi in most of the state but is strong in traditionally Democratic Seattle. The current count has Rossi in the lead by 236 votes out of 2.8 million cast. Washington hasn't elected a Republican governor in about a quarter of a century.

Right now, both parties are scouring the list of voters whose provisional or absentee ballots were rejected for technicalities, such as missing or apparently mismatched signatures. Then they are knocking on the voters' doors and asking them to swear out affidavits to try to get their rejected ballots counted. The Democrats just delivered a stack of such affidavits to election officials yesterday.

Remember that Congress enacted a federal law after the Florida debacle requiring states to make greater use of provisional ballots. That was supposed to "fix" things. Uh-huh.
Posted at 11:26 PM

MORE SITCOM BIAS [KJL]
According to Jim on ABC tonight pokes ignorant fun at Costa Rica for no apparent reason. No reason? Think again. Who's the Bush ally in the U.N. fighting for a cloning ban? Yup. Costa Rica. They knew what they were doing.

I'm completely kidding. The Corner is getting kinda slooow. Just getting punchy while I work. Funny show though.
Posted at 09:30 PM

YOU [KJL]
could still make phonecalls.
Posted at 07:08 PM

ALSO HEARING [KJL]
from a Senate staffer:

the caucus and leadership meetings were not love fests. Specter was forced to address the issues and his leadership of the committee, and to defend himself. Hatch in fact did exit the meeting and put his arm around Specter and endorsed him.

Conservatives are livid about Hatch's actions, but now feel there is little that can be done. The old guard is backing him, and some more endorsements are expected tonight and tomorrow. The way it was put to me is that barring a last minute surprise, Specter has the job.

Posted at 06:41 PM

EVIDENTLY [KJL]
Hatch just came out of the meeting and told a bunch of reporters that Specter would be ok and would be the chairman.
Posted at 06:30 PM

"I'M STILL CONSIDERING" [KJL]
Goerge Allen told Fox's Brian Wilson after the first, the leadership meeting.
Posted at 06:14 PM

SPECTER [KJL]
CNN just reported that Orrin Hatch literally put his arm around Specter at their 4:00.
Posted at 06:11 PM

LAMAR COLD SHOULDERS SPECTER A LITTLE [KJL]
He's another non-Jud Cmte member though: "It would seem to me and others it'd be inappropriate to be issuing that kind of warning to the president of the United States," Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., told CNN Tuesday. "It sounded like Sen. Specter might have a litmus test, and I don't think the Judiciary Committee should have a litmus test."
Posted at 05:59 PM

RE: MARY FRANCES BERRY [KJL]
She's not got the Left locked up either.
Posted at 05:56 PM

SPECTER & BUSH [KJL]
Club for Growth causes trouble...and has a giveaway.
Posted at 05:54 PM

"DEAR LEADER" [KJL]
Where is he going...or gone?
Posted at 05:08 PM

HILLARY [KJL]
vs. Powell?
Posted at 04:56 PM

MARY FRANCES BERRY'S [KJL]
term is up, but she ain't budging.
Posted at 03:24 PM

AFTER VAN GOGH (CTD) [Andrew Stuttaford]
According to the Dutch website, Expatica, the murder of Theo Van Gogh may also be acting as a wake-up call to Germany. Here's hoping. Meanwhile, here is what the preacher at Berlin's Mevlana Mosque was secretly recorded by Germany's (public) ZDF TV as having to say about his neighbors:

"These Germans, these atheists, these Europeans don't shave under their arms and their sweat collects under their hair with a revolting smell and they stink...Hell lives for the infidels! Down with all democracies and all democrats!"

Why, you have a nice day too.

Posted at 03:04 PM

AN INSULT TO DOGGEREL [Andrew Stuttaford]
Regular readers may remember the controversy over whether the words of the hymn 'I vow to thee my country' were, as some idiotic parson suggested, too reprehensible to be sung in today's PC C of E. Well, sensitive souls can relax. Songwriter Billy Bragg has come to the rescue with lyrics so irritating that I will now look at 'Imagine' with strange new respect. Some of the words can be found in this Daily Telegraph report. The whole nightmare concludes like this:

"For there is a simple principle/ That no one shall displace/ We are all alike in humankind/ We are the human race."

And with that, I must admit, I was so overwhelmed with nausea that I had to go and lie down.

Posted at 02:00 PM

RE: ANOTHER ONE [Jack Fowler]
Please do not for a single minute assume that some of us on this mega-luxurious cruise vessel aren't attending to our regular duties. Mine is fishmongering for our products, so let's get right to it and urge you to 1) buy our books, and therefore 2) impact the liver of the Queen Zixi of Ix-loving Daniel Casey. Now the Zuiderdam prints out a daily mini-version of the NY Times (ugh), with today's version carrying David Brooks' column on "I Am Charlotte Simmons," Tom Wolfe's new novel. The point of the column, and I assume Wolfe's book, is that our society is producing a generation of kids who are clueless about virtues and morality. And the point of this message is to bellow that you can do something about this -- yes, by getting a child one of NR's wonderful books. All of our children's "Treasury" titles are wholesome, and filled with tales that are instructive, that teach virtues, that stand athwart the cultural rot, yelling Stop! If you're going to give your son or daughter or grandchild "stuff" for Christmas, why not make sure that at least one item will do their soul some good. Get those kids about whom you truly care National Review's acclaimed books, here. And when you do, you'll get a free copy of L. Frank Baum's delightful tale, Queen Zixi of Ix (drink up Dan!).
Posted at 01:54 PM

NO SENSE ZONE [Shannen Coffin]
Evidence that Bill O'Reilly is officially lost to the dark side. Endorses Bill Clinton as Secretary of State. Fortunately, he wasn't heard at the White House.
Posted at 12:34 PM

ANOTHER ONE! [KJL]
While the rest are cruising, I'm working on my subscription commission. An e-mail:

I just subscribed to the mag after freeloading at NRO for years!

There are many reasons, but the biggest single one is my gratitude for the Corner and the Kerry Spot on election day. While my fellow conservatives wept and the MSM gloated* on air, I simply went about my business, realizing the exit polls were bogus. Then I sat down to watch returns come in, knowing in my bones that Florida and Ohio would come home to Bush. Thank you, Medium Cheese. Thank you, Corner.

Posted at 12:29 PM

THE TIME HAS COME [KJL]
We hear: Specter met with Senate GOP leadership this morning about his chairmanship. He is meeting with the Judiciary Committee members at 4.
Posted at 12:26 PM

SPECTER & LOTT [KJL]
I had forgotten that Specter had defended Lott during the Strom fury. From the 2004 Almanac of American Politics:

Specter was one moderate who stood by Trent Lott after his comments at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party December 5, 2002. On December 11 he said, "I know Trent Lott very well from working with him in the Senate for the last 14 years and can vouch for the inadvertent slip and and his apology should end the discussion."

(Just trivia...)
Posted at 11:41 AM

M HURT MY FEELINGS, MONEYPENNY! [Cliff May]
The Los Angeles Times reports today that two more senior CIA officials have quit because of confrontations with CIA director Porter Goss’s new chief of staff, Patrick Murray, “who many accuse of having a brusque manner.” (See Michael Ledeen on this all, too.)

Can you imagine James Bond getting upset because M had a “brusque manner”? Can you imagine him stomping out in a huff because Q cracked wise with him?

What does this suggest about the CIA’s descent from the world’s premier spy agency to another entrenched bureaucracy?
Posted at 11:33 AM

A READER'S REQUEST [KJL]

I'm hoping that pictures of the cruise will be posted for Cornerites and others to see.

We'd like to see what Derbyshire looks like with a Hawaiian shirt on. Jonah with a glass that has one of those funny umbrellas sticking in it. Lowry with a Thurston style cap and ascot.

Posted at 11:30 AM

GOOD POINT TO CONTINUE TO BEAR IN MIND [KJL]
An e-mail:

Jim Boulet Jr. makes an excellent point re: the influence that the Judiciary Committee staff will have, and what a bad idea it is to let Snarlin' Arlen pick them. It is something I've stressed in e-mails and phone calls to the current members of the committee, along with my objections to Specter's stand on tort reform, affirmative action and his preference for activist judges.

I think it is very important to make the members understand that this is not simply a "Religious Right" vs. "Pro-Choice Senator" argument, and that are plenty of people who are neither especially religious nor primarily concerned with abortion who recognize what a disaster for the party, the President and the country Arlen Specter would be as chairman of this key committee. ... "Spectero delenda est!"

Posted at 11:13 AM

TOO MUCH INFORMATION ON TOM [Tim Graham]
The New York Times apparently gave Bill Carter too much space for his retiring-Tom-Brokaw article: "By the Friday after Election Day, Mr. Brokaw had recovered from his all-nighter. Speaking by telephone from his third home in Bedford, N.Y., where he had started the day -- as the thermometer soared to about 45 degrees -- by taking a dip in the lake adjacent to his property. (He has been known to skinny-dip in that lake with his wife, Meredith.) "
Posted at 10:25 AM

NOTHING SACRED IN THE REALITY-TV BIZ [Tim Graham]
The Hollywood Reporter notes Emmy-nominated reality producers Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz are developing a new unscripted series about infidelity, featuring stories of unfaithful spouses who have turned to the Ashley Madison Agency, a popular online matchmaking service that caters to attached people seeking extramarital affairs. "The sanctity of marriage is clearly a hot-button topic in today's environment," Lipsitz said. "Exploring the current state of love and commitment against the backdrop of our changing social landscape makes for a fascinating and daring unscripted drama." The program will explore the reasons behind infidelity and will "chronicle the exploits" of members of the controversial online dating service. Ick.
Posted at 10:25 AM

WJB ON ELECTION 2004 [Stanley Kurtz]
Yesterday, William Bennett offered his reading of the election in an address at the Heritage Foundation. Here’s an excerpt: “...the charge that the right wing or the Christian right has taken over this country, and that this is what explains moral values, is false: In fact, what President Bush stood for, ran on, and won on is a center-right morality, what we might call common moral sense. America has not turned far right. What the president stood for is mainstream....I know the religious right, and President Bush is not the religious right. President Bush did not direct a devoted flock on evangelicals–in fact they were out in front of him and his campaign on many issues and were often very frustrated with what they regarded as the White House and the President’s indecisiveness....Evangelical support of President Bush is not even the largest part of the electoral story, because he drew very large support from Catholics, and Hispanics, and even raised his numbers among Jews....And the issues mirrored the numbers–like the numbers, they were largely center-right. President Bush did not campaign on ending abortion, he campaigned and spoke more about partial birth abortion (which John Kerry supports, but a vast majority of Americans oppose). President Bush did not suffocate stem cell research, he was the first president to fund it, and then barred further federal funding of it. President Bush did support a constitutional amendment to bar gay marriage–but so too did voters in every state where they could vote on it for their state laws. In short, the President campaigned from the middle, or the middle right. Not the far right. And he won.” Bennett’s full address will appear in the Winter edition of The Claremont Review of Books.
Posted at 10:22 AM

NO COMMENT [KJL]
From a Piece on RU-486 on a Feminist Website:

Dr. Vanessa Cullins, vice president of medical affairs for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said Holly's death is a tragedy but that medical abortion is safe.

"Death is such a rare event associated with medical abortion that it's startling," Cullins said. "But this is a way for the anti-choice extremists to push the agenda of banning all abortions."

[Emphasis, obviously, mine.] (Article here.)
Posted at 10:18 AM

GREAT MINDS... [KJL]
Jonah--(actually I think he may be cruising by now), the pope is talking about abortion and TV, too.
Posted at 10:15 AM

M. LEDEEN'S DAY WILL BE MADE [KJL]
Cnn reporting that Richard Armitage is resigning from State. Even if his war Cabinet didn't have Condi in it.
Posted at 10:13 AM

RU-486 [KJL]
gets a warning label.
Posted at 09:53 AM

OHIO [KJL]
headed for a recount?
Posted at 09:44 AM

BEWARE WHAT YOU BLOG [KJL]
A flight attendant reveals too much for Delta.
Posted at 09:37 AM

HARVARD LAW STUDENTS [KJL]
vs. Specter-as-chairman.
Posted at 09:09 AM

SPECTER & STAFF [Jim Boulet Jr.]
The power a Chairman Arlen Specter would have to staff the Senate Judiciary Committee deserves more concern from Senate Republicans than it has received to date. Personnel is policy. The people a Chairman Specter would hire will be well to the left of the average moderate Republican, let alone the average conservative.

In 1987, I visited with a Specter staffer in support of Robert Bork's Supreme Court nomination. I told him that a Justice Bork would not be predictable, unlike, say, California's former Chief Justice, Rose Bird, who was much in the news at the time.

Justice Bird famously HREF="http://www.goodbyemag.com/nov99/bird.html">overturned 61 consecutive death penalty cases. California voters removed her in 1986.

Specter's man stopped me. "I think Rose Bird is an excellent justice."
Posted at 08:58 AM

"A BIG DAY" [KJL]
That, from Senator Sessions, on Fox a few ago, talking about Specter's chairmanship. He reminded viewers that Specter does not have to become chairman. Which has been our point all along. This is the one moment when Republicans on the committee can rethink this. Do we want this obstacle leading the committee?
Posted at 08:48 AM

“’OH MY GOD, IS SHE GOING TO HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN IF I SAY HER FIRST CHILD WASN’T A PERSON?’” [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
Peter Singer (Professor of Infanticide, Princeton University) takes his class to a neonatal ward.
Posted at 08:08 AM

GREAT FOLKS [Jack Fowler]
I count my blessings, many of which derive from working here at NR, and the people I meet by virtue of being so fortunately situated. Thousands of good and decent folks have taken our cruises these last ten years, and one of the most interesting couples I've met are Hal and Rebecca Bynum. If Hal's name rings a bell, it should -- the acclaimed songwriter's cv includes “Lucille,” “Chains,” “Papa Was a Good Man,” “There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang,” “Nobody’s Fool,” and tons more. He's the real deal, and you can read all about him at http://www.halbynum.com/. It was an pleasure just to meet Hal and Rebecca, and an honor when they gave me a copy of his new CD, "An American Prayer." I heartily recommend it to all. This is a collection of beautiful poetry -- the common man, in the vernacular, simple and sweet and deep, dead-on imagery -- about faith, country, love, and redemption, rendered in a mesmerizing baritone drawl, perfectly set to music. It would be an understatement to call "An American Prayer" moving. Get it. The great places you go and the great people you meet on an NR cruise.
Posted at 07:58 AM

PARTYING WITH CLINTON [Tim Graham]
Thursday's opening of the Clinton presidential lie-brary is bound to be riddled with bad puns and double entendres. We can declare the race open today with the following news from the Washington Post's gossip:

"But what to do on Wednesday night before the big ribbon-cutting? That was a quandary until Washington lobbyists Craig Smith and Matt Gorman drummed up their 'Late Night in Little Rock -- A Clinton-Gore Celebration,' to be held at the Little Rock restaurant Sticky Fingerz."

Posted at 07:06 AM

RE: RAIL CRUISE [KJL]
A request for Jonah (who else is qualified?), from the e-mail box: "I'm there, as long as there is at least one day of seminars devoted to Laser Volcano Lancing."
Posted at 07:01 AM

THE SPECTER SPECTRE [KJL]
Senator Arlen cut out of last night’s NYC right-winger confab over by Grand Central, but Rick Santorum was scheduled to speak and did make it. The whole thing was off the record—though nothing shocking was said—so I won’t go into details other than to say, once again, this is a guy we don’t want to lose, if you are pro-marriage and pro-life. There were some protesters outside, urging Santorum to take on Specter. I understand the sentiment, but, that’s not his place—he’s not on the committee. As I noted yesterday, McCain supporting Specter in this fight is no biggie. Sessions, however, not publicly supporting Specter, is a bigger deal, since Sessions is actually on the Judiciary Committee, unlike McCain…or Santorum.

Again, I know there is soreness about Santorum’s support for Specter in the primary, but I’d argue he was doing his team-player thing, which is part of his value. Yeah, I’d love a Sen. Toomey about now. But, life goes on. (I’m not flacking for Santorum, just trying to be realistic.)

And, meanwhile, there are still a few hours before a call is made in this Judiciary chairmanship fight, so maybe make a few calls.

I might add, people who have been with us on the Specter thing have made big headway--that Frist moment on Sunday was a big public milestone, and reflected things I had been hearing for days off the record. Even if Specter becomes chairman, I think conservatives are better off having fought this fight.
Posted at 06:58 AM

RE: CUA [KJL]
Since a bunch of CUA-ers seem to read The Corner, I tell ya, I did have some cool profs while there. I focused on politics and philosophy and wound up with a bunch of guys who are still there, I’m happy to say. I took a whole slew of classes with David Walsh, a delightfully brilliant Irishman. And I had a few with the eccentric Dennis Coyle, con-law man. Also took Claes Ryn, Philip Henderson, John A. Kromkowski & James O’Leary--and of course, the aforementioned Schneck--all who were terrific. Henderson amazingly made “Executive-Branch Policymaking” exciting at something like 8 p.m. Didn’t think that was possible outside of actually executive-branch policymaking, in the executive branch. My philosophy classes I would pay money to take again, right now, if I weren’t still paying for the first round! The head of the department, Fr. Kurtz Pritzl, a dear man, has a love for teaching and for philosophy that might be unparallel, in a field where love for learning is pretty competitive. My love for Kevin White’s class, went beyond my interest in Aquinas, and had something to do with the messenger in that case, friends would tease. So be it. I had good taste in college, sue me. (I’m counting on White not being a Corner reader, or color this post red.) Fr. Brian Shanley was the only person I ever wanted to hear about the moderns from. Mercifully, he was there--no closet Nietzsche fans in that department! I also was lucky enough to have Russell Hittinger’s last class at CUA, I’ll always be grateful he fit me in. (I am doing nobody justice here, but about two people will enjoy this post anyway.) There are a bunch of other great professors (including John McCarthy, Msgr. Sokolowski, and Jude Dougherty at CUA.philosophy; on that second run through, when I finish paying for the first, I will hit their classes), who I knew more through friends talking about their classes than from firsthand experience, and a few, like David Gallagher who have since left. (And, to hint that I am getting old, one of my fellow undergrads is now a professor there—Angela McKay.)

I’m done for now. Enough memory lane. I suppose if I had gone to homecoming this weekend, I would have spared you the scrapbook walk-through here. I'm going back to work now...
Posted at 06:34 AM

CHIRAC UNLOADS [John J. Miller]
A week ago, French foreign minister Barnier wrote a "Letter to America" in the Wall Street Journal. "I'm concerned to see both Americans and Europeans expressing doubts over the future of transatlantic relations," he worried. "I believe we must give a new impetus to our political relations."

Apparently his boss, the president of Our Oldest Enemy, hasn't kept track of Barnier's correspondence. Speaking to British journalists, he shared a few thoughts on America:

"Britain gave its support but I did not see anything in return. I’m not sure it is in the nature of our American friends at the moment to return favours systematically."

"It is like that nice guy in America — what’s his name again? — who spoke about ‘old Europe’. It has no sense. It’s a lack of culture to imagine that."

"I am not sure, with America as it is these days, that it would be easy for someone, even the British, to be an honest broker."
Posted at 06:31 AM

BASIC INSTINCT [KJL]
And, dear readers, despite the cruise, I’m sticking to a tried and true policy today, yesterday notwithstanding, no posting till you (meaning your humble K-Lo) actually know what you’re (me) talking about. Where’s Ombudsman Derbyshire when you need him? Oh, yeah, on the Caribbean.
Posted at 06:07 AM

CASUALTIES OF BLOGS [KJL ]
Yesterday, you may recall, I witched about a silly controversy at Catholic U in D.C. In the process, I completely misread a campus-paper editorial and news story, and confused two separate campus speaker policies. In the midst of doing that, I also unfairly (and unintentionally) maligned an old professor of mine, Prof. Stephen Schneck. Schneck is pro-life, first off, and was not only cool with Fr. O’Connell’s prayer at the Bush-Cheney rally on election night, but is also opposed to pro-abortion speakers on campus. (Whoo-hoo! Go, Schneck!)

The Tower piece made that completely clear, but in my rush I confused John Kenneth White’s opposition to Fr. O’Connell prayer with Stephen Schneck’s support of it. (Yes, a little embarrassing here.)

Dr. Schneck sent me a very kind e-mail last night setting the record straight. I only hope he doesn’t hold himself accountable for my inability to read. In truth, I took more Walsh and Coyle in the politics department, so they bear more of the responsibility, I suppose.

And put me in the hall of commentariat dishonor this morning.
Posted at 06:02 AM

JEFF SESSIONS UNDECIDED RE: SPECTER? [KJL]
This sounds like it's not a done deal. But might be by the end of today. You might want to give Senator Jeff Sessions some friendly (and I mean that, he's a gem).
Posted at 05:40 AM

C’EST UNE BLAGUE, QUOI? [Cliff May]
Jacques Chirac told Tony Blair that he had won nothing from Bus for supporting the war against Saddam Hussein’s regime.

The possibility that Blair supported the liberation of the Iraqi people from a Fascist regime as a matter of principle and deeply felt conviction would never even occur to Chirac.

I know democracies never go to war with one another. But mightn’t we make an exception once in a while? (The devil made me say that! Bite my tongue! Hush my mouth!) The story on Chirac dissing Blair is here.
Posted at 12:45 AM

EVENING CRUISE REPORT [Jack Fowler]
All's swell. Including the deep blue sea. Swelling, that is. I'll admit seeing a few deep green faces, but that's nothing a little dramamine can't cure! We had another great seminar session this afternoon, with our expertati, led by Jay Nordlinger (unrivalled in many things, including moderating a swarm of experts), regaling us on 2008 and more. The wonkery is over for the day. Tonight, there's a perfect dinner awaiting all, and then a late-night pool-side smoker featuring H. Upmann's tasty cigars. Among the many interesting folks in our cabal of 400 is Stacey Tipton, whose company -- www.musicalspanish.com -- produces nifty programs that teach youngun's espanol via music. Neato torpedo, and more proof of America's great entreprenurial spirit! Viva Tipton! Well, there's a pina colada with my name on it up in the Ocean Bar. Gotta go. But not before I tell you that at www.danielcasey.com there's a drinking game where one must knock back a shot every time The Corner mentions Queen Zixi of Ix (the great L. Frank Baum tale you get free when you buy NR's wonderful kids books -- more about that here) and I'll be darned if I don't turn Casey into a drunk by Christmas! Queen Zixi of Ix! Queen Zixi of Ix! Did I happen to mention Queen Zixi of Ix?!
Posted at 12:45 AM

Monday, November 15, 2004

A FEW MORE EMAILS... [Jonah Goldberg]

On abortion etc...

Jonah,

First, to mollify the red state orientation and reactionary element that is NRO I think one of those steam trains that goes from D.C. through West Virginia in a day would really cover all bases and should be explored for a "cruise."

Second, in law school Gtown professors thought this "good Samaritan" law stuff was devastating to conservatives. As it happens I was against good Samaritan laws because affirmative duties to do good are not something free societies deal with well, and worse, inevitably the person with the responsibility (duty) in the law also has a duty to do it non-negligently which is a recipe for damned if you do damned if you don't litigation. However, for the reasons you state a drowning baby that is a stranger to you is a lot different from a non-dying unborn child who is related to you! We all have greater responsibility in the law to our own children. The analysis should be turned against Glen (as he recognizes in the case of unwed fathers') because whereas you have no direct duty to other people's children you most certainly do to your own. It is another reason the abortion regime he touts so assiduously violates natural justice.

The American Prospect seems to believe that having an unadulterated Arlen Specter chair the Judiciary Committee would be second only to having Ted Kennedy himself in that seat. Senate Republicans would do well to ask themselves: what if The Prospect is right?
Posted at 04:58 PM

SITCOM POLITICS [KJL]
The day of that discussion, that night, I caught a little of ABC's primetime lineup. 8 Simple Rules had a WMDs joke.

But, have you seen Complete Savages? Kinda funny.
Posted at 04:54 PM

MORE ON INSTAPUNDIT [Jonah Goldberg]

This reader sums it up nicely:

O'Sullivan: Rounding Up the Usual Suspects 04/28 1:56 p.m. WFB: Hanging Right There . . . 04/28 1:50 p.m. York: Out of Nowhere: A Blogger's Best-seller 04/28 10:38 a.m. Kudlow: The Greatest Story Never Told 04/28 8:45 a.m. Gaffney: Bad Business 04/28 8:30 a.m. Ramsay: An Extraordinary Flight 04/28 7:43 a.m. The Editors: WOTW 04/28 6:28 a.m. Nordlinger: Impromptus 04/28 6:26 a.m. Hanson: Our Orphaned Middle East Policy 04/28 6:25 a.m. McCarthy: Not for the Faint of Heart 04/28 6:24 a.m. Seipp: They Say I've Seen the Light 04/28 6:08 a.m. Lowry: 9/11 Unvarnished 04/28 6:08 a.m. Robbins: Zarqawi's Action Video 04/28 6:07 a.m. Looking for a story? Click here