State of the Union
TAC Digest: August 9
Today at theamericanconservative.com, Daniel Larison punctured neocon fears and realist hopes for Robert Zoellick’s putative influence over Romney, Scott Galupo saw the Romney campaign’s pivot on health care as an effort to connect with women, and Noah Millman went another round on Yglesias and stupid tax policy. Elias Crim wrote in praise of culture without wars, and Rod Dreher appraised politically correct history.
Drones remade war, foreign policy hawks counted on Romney’s weakness, and good writing beat good food.
Week in Review: July 30-August 3
Gore Vidal in 1948 (photo: Carl Van Vechten)
This week on theamericanconservative.com, Daniel McCarthy remembered Gore Vidal, Bill Kauffman celebrated Vidal’s Selected Essays, and Scott Galupo reflected on the last republican’s contradictions. Galupo appreciated the futility of fabricating Bob Dylan quotes, and Rod Dreher suggested that writers — like the offender Jonah Lehrer — are insane. Jordan Bloom considered Republican hypocrisy on sequestered defense cuts, and Michael Brendan Dougherty lost his old town.
Britain abolished itself, liberals engaged in a disingenuous debate about religion, Romney imitated a mannequin, the GOP establishment welcomed Ted Cruz, and the Chick-fil-A brouhaha reminded Dreher of Woodstock. Repository item on how to read a book here. TAC classic on high church conservatism here.
TAC Digest: August 2
Today at theamericanconservative.com, Rod Dreher wrote in praise of ”cheerful community rebellion,” Jordan Bloom considered Republican hypocrisy on sequestered defense cuts, Philip Giraldi followed Romney’s foreign money, and Bradley J. Birzer asked if Christian humanism can redeem an age of ideology.
At least Romney’s gaffe-heavy Israel trip put real issues on the table, the great IQ discussion continued, the culture war launched something of a stimulus, and institutions needed nurturing.
TAC Digest: August 1
Today at theamericanconservative.com, Daniel McCarthy remembered Gore Vidal, Bill Kauffman celebrated Vidal’s Selected Essays, and Scott Galupo reflected on the last republican’s contradictions. Robert Schlesinger thought through presidential rankings, and Rod Dreher lost faith in the First Amendment.
Politicians still threatened religious liberty, Romney imitated a mannequin, the GOP establishment welcomed Ted Cruz, a billionaire begged for “democracy insurance,” and we were all moneychangers.
TAC Digest: July 31
Today at theamericanconservative.com, Jack Hunter praised Murray Rothbard’s practical politics, and Scott Galupo feared Tea Party Statism. Samuel Goldman recognized the limits of presidential power, Rod Dreher read more Wallace Stevens, and Noah Millman presented his own take on that bard: “Thirteen Ways of Blogging about a Poem.”
The military went jousting, fighting spiked in Afghanistan, and the presidential campaign was like CSPAN1 and CSPAN2 having sex on Ambien. New TAC classic on high church conservatism here.
TAC Digest: July 30
Today at theamericanconservative.com, Scott Galupo realized the futility of fabricating Bob Dylan quotes, and Rod Dreher suggested that writers — like the offender Jonah Lehrer — are insane. Daniel McCarthy maintained that the right never stopped loving big government, and the Boston Globe highlighted Ron Unz on IQ. Philip Giraldi identified the real naivety on Iran, and Scott McConnell found something to like about W.
Britain abolished itself, liberals lied about religion, Ike wasn’t all he’s cracked up to be, a pastor needed guts, and the national anthem was butchered. New Repository item on how to read a book here.
TAC Week In Review: July 8-15
Scott Galupo, Daniel Larison, and Rod Dreher poured cold water all over the Condi VP speculation, Samuel Goldman and Scott McConnell weighed in on the great elite debate, Eve Tushnet reflected on Beasts of the Southern Wild (spoiler alert!), and Michael Dougherty unpacked the dangerous logic of drones.
James P. Pinkerton promoted healthy alternatives, and Mark Skousen trumpeted Friedrich Hayek. Pat Buchanan roasted the failed financial elite, Robert P. Murphy dismantled the myth of wartime prosperity, and R.J. Stove praised an Anglican who fought for Catholics. Goldman studied the value of college, Kevin R.C. Gutzman set Originalism against Obamacare, and D.G. Hart located the religious middle. Jordan Bloom expounded on copyright, McConnell wondered how America could allow Romney to run for president, and Galupo hoped Romney gets spat out. Noah Millman returned for a bit, analyzed the GOP’s health care politics, endorsed Elizabeth Warren, and reviewed Death of a Salesman.
William D. Hartung noticed our MAD world. Doug Bandow argued against conflict with China. Larison refused Romney as the epitome of traditionalism, laughed at Romney’s political goals in Europe, caught overstatements about a Venezuela threat, smelled fear in Santorum and Romney, dodged the draft, and took note of Islamist victories. McConnell supported a Ron Paul aide against pro-Israel Democrats. Kelley Vlahos asked if the Pentagon is really a great jobs program, and wished Carl Prine better.
Dreher wondered if we need an intellectual capital, understood Episcopalian loyalty, looked forward to linguistic experiences in France, and chewed over avocados and babies, considered the sixties, humbled the meritocracy, proposed a Julia Child Centenary Dinner, identified the problem with public schools, grappled with the Penn State travesty, and revealed the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.
(Video: The Rolling Stones perform “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in London in 2003. SOTU commentary on the band’s quinquagenary here and here.)
TAC Digest: July 12
Kevin R.C. Gutzman set Originalism against Obamacare, and D.G. Hart located the religious middle. Scott Galupo came across an interesting educational meditation, and wanted one last Stones‘ hurrah, while Samuel Goldman revisited elephants and termites. Rod Dreher proposed a Julia Child Centenary Dinner, identified the problem with public schools, dealt with the reality of Penn State football, and revealed the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.
Daniel Larison untied Romney’s Cheney fundraiser, assayed Romney’s base-pandering, deconstructed arguments for a united authoritarian front.
TAC Digest: July 11
Samuel Goldman studied the value of college, while Daniel Larison uprooted political cynicism, and told Romney not to read. Rod Dreher claimed his crap, turned on affection, philosophized Episcopalianism, voted Dubya 2012, exemplified Mormons, used hypocrisy, and stayed out of the water. Scott Galupo needed Romney to go away.
Doug Bandow argued against conflict with China. Larison caught overstatements about a Venezuela threat, smelled fear in Santorum and Romney, and did not buy the serious Chavez impact. Kelley Vlahos asked if the Pentagon is really a great jobs program, and wished Carl Prine better.
TAC Digest: July 10
Pat Buchanan roasted the failed financial elite, Robert P. Murphy dismantled the myth of wartime prosperity, and R.J. Stove praised an Anglican who fought for Catholics. Scott Galupo solicited TAC reader opinion on spoiled children, and Samuel Goldman sought the value of college. Rod Dreher wondered if we need an intellectual capital, understood Episcopalian loyalty, looked forward to linguistic experiences in France, and chewed over avocados and babies. Noah Millman returned for a bit, analyzed the GOP’s health care politics, and endorsed Elizabeth Warren, and reviewed Death of a Salesman.
Daniel Larison refused Romney as the epitome of traditionalism, laughed at Romney’s political goals in Europe, explored the Goode effect in Virginia, discounted hawkish interest, dodged the draft, and took note of Islamist victories. Scott McConnell supported a Ron Paul aide against pro-Israel Democrats.
