What kind of conservative am I? Here’s an opinion.
Sample: “The
bottom line is that Derbyshire is a chatty, anti-philosophical Englishman,
so that it’s not clear that general intellectual conclusions about the state
of modern conservatism can be derived from reading him.” This is wrong or
semi-wrong on two points. (1) Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a
taciturn person, at least when sober. (However, I think the reference is to
my writing style, so this is at worst a semi-wrong.) (2)
Anti-philosophical: ‘fraid so, by my own admission. I am wellnigh allergic
to abstract philosophy. (3) Englishman: How dare you, Sir! I am reminded
of the late Spike Milligan, whom _Private Eye_ referred to as “a filthy
Irish pervert.” Milligan threatened to sue them on the grounds that he was
not Irish.